Area of Specialization : Plant Molecular Biology , Plant Biotechnology (Tissue culture & Genetic engineering)
Achievement : Arabidopsis genes, CRR6 and CRR7 were identified in the mutant which specially lacks NDH activity. Arabidopsis thaliana mutants, crr6 , crr7 (chlororespiratory reduction) were isolated using chlorophyll fluorescence imaging to detect reduced activity in NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (NDH). CRR7 (At5g39210) encodes a protein of 156 amino acids, including a putative plastid target signal, and does not contain any known motifs. In contrast to CRR2 and CRR4 involved in the expression of chloroplast ndh genes, CRR7 is conserved in cyanobacterial genomes. Although CRR6 and CRR7 did not contain any transmembrane domains, these were localized to the membrane fraction of the chloroplast. Stability of CRR6 as well as CRR7 protein was analyzed by Western blot using antibodies against tag epitopes to study whether they are subunit of NDH complex or not within the crr2 mutant background. CRR7 was unstable in the crr2-2 mutant background, in which the expression of ndhB was impaired. These results strongly suggest that CRR7 is a novel subunit of the chloroplast NDH complex.
Future Plan : Isolation, identification and characterization of subunit composition (corresponding to missing subunits) of NDH complex. Screening and cloning of selected genes involved in the improvement of important crops.
Research Interest : Genetic transformation of important crops of Bangladesh incorporating novel traits in them.
Latest Publications :
M. Kamruzzaman Munshi, Yoshichika Kobayashi and Toshiharu Shikanai (2006) CRR6 is a novel factor required for accumulation of the chloroplast NAD(P)H dehydrogenase complex in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology (USA) 141: 737-744.
M. Kamruzzaman Munshi, Yoshichika Kobayashi and Toshiharu Shikanai (2005) Identification of a novel protein, CRR7, required for the stabilization of the chloroplast NAD(P)H dehydrogenase complex in Arabidopsis. The Plant Journal (UK) 44: 1036-1044.
M.K.Munshi, L.Hakim, M.R.Islam and Golam Ahmed (2004) In vitro Clonal Propagation of Banyan(Ficus benghalensis L.) through Axillary Bud Culture. International J. Agri. Biol. (Pakistan) 6(2):321-323).
M.K.Munshi,S.N.Hossain,M.R.Islam,L.Hakim and G.Ahmed (2004) In vitro mass propagation of turmeric (Curcuma longa. L.) using buds from rhizomes. Bangladesh J. Bot. (Bangladesh) 33 (2):124-125.
Syed Hadiuzzaman, M.Kamruzzaman Munshi and R.L. Banik. (1998) In vitro regeneration of plantlets from different explants of seedling and mature tree of teak (Tectona grandis L.). Dhaka Univ. J. Biol. Sci. (Bangladesh)
7(1) : 41-48.
