KESHAB RIJAL, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA

Phone: 617-638-8279

Email:

EDUCATION

Ph.D. Biochemistry/Biological SciencesWayne State University - Detroit, MI2011

Master of Science: Chemistry Tribhuvan University - Kathmandu, Nepal1999

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Postdoctoral Fellow, Boston Medical Center, Boston MA 04/2016 to present

Research Interest: Study the effect of uremic toxins in basic cellular process such as transcription and translation

Major accomplishments

  • Completed high throughput measurement of tissue factor expression analysis in clinical trial human serum samples for biomarker development project.
  • Generated stable cell line for protein expression and purification.
  • Establishing a method to study the effect of uremic toxins in human cell lines and animal models.

Postdoctoral Fellow, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health – Bethesda, MD 01/2011 to 04/2016

Research Interest: Study of tRNA productionwith focus on transcription termination by RNA polymerase III (RNAP III) using genetic and biochemical approaches.

Major accomplishments

  • Developed a genetic screening system to isolate termination defective mutants from S. pombe.
  • Prepared random mutagenic library of various subunits of RNA polymerase III and developed strains containing mutant’s subunits.
  • Isolated transcription defective mutants from five different subunits of RNA polymerase III, using self-developed random mutagenic library (NIH Fellow Award).
  • Prepared Library for Next-Generation sequencing to analyze the tRNA expression level in mutant polymerase.

Graduate Research Assistant, Wayne State University – Detroit, MI; 08/2005 to 12/2010.

Research Interest: Small molecule-RNA interaction and identification of novel drug target sites on the Ribosome

Major accomplishments

  • Potential new drug target sites were identified on the ribosome using new chemical probes.
  • Studied mechanism of Cisplatin-RNA interactionby reverse transcription, HPLC, MALDI-TOF, LC-MS and Atomic absorption spectroscopy.
  • For advanced understandingof how small molecules find their target sites; various analogues of cisplatin were synthesized, characterized, and studiedtheir interaction with RNA.
  • Liposome mediated siRNA delivery method was developed to specifically target non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer cells.

Research Assistant, SunMoon University, South Korea, 01/2004 to 06/2005.

Research Interest: Production of novel bio-active compounds by genetic engineering

Major accomplishments

  • Cloning, expression and comparison of cytochrome p450 from Streptomyces hygroscopicus NRRL3602 with its homologues.
  • Isolated gene clusters for the biosynthesis of Spiramycin antibiotic biosynthetic pathway.

Quality Control Officer, Time Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd. – Bharatpur, Nepal, 3/2000 to 12/2003.

Major Responsibilities

  • Quality control assessment for various drugs, raw materials, in-process, and finished products.
  • Manage and monitor overall laboratory functions.
  • Mentoring andtraining of technical staff members.

EXPERIMENTAL SKILLS

Molecular/Cell Biology:

  • Cell culture techniques (bacteria, yeast, insect, and mammalian), deletion and integration of genes (genetic modification), Flow cytometry.
  • RNA/DNA transfection, molecular cloning, PCR, RT-PCR, qPCR.

Proteomics:

  • Expression, purification, and immune affinity enrichments of proteins; western blotting, RNA polymerase isolation and purification, enzymatic assay of purified proteins, native and SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis.

Nucleic acid biochemistry:

  • DNA/RNA isolation and purification,genomic DNA isolation, random mutagenic library preparation, electro-mobility gel shift assays (EMSA), Chemical and RNase foot printing, primer extension, in vitro transcription, Northern and Southern blotting, sequencing, ribosome and polysome isolation.

Analytical and Instrumentation:

  • HPLC, FPLC, mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF), UV-Visible spectroscopy, Dissolution, Karl Fisher titration, Fluorescence microscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS), Phosphorimager (Typhoon).

Animal Model:

  • Hands on training in mouse (handling, IV and subcutaneous) and Zebrafish (handling, embryo’s injections, phenotyping etc.)

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

Publications:

  1. Rijal K, Maraia RJ. Active Center Control of Termination by RNA Polymerase III and tRNA Gene Transcription Levels In Vivo.PLoS Genet. 2016 Aug 12;12(8)
  2. Arimbasseri AG, Iben J, Wei FY, Rijal K, Tomizawa K, Hafner M, Maraia RJ.Evolving specificity of tRNA 3-methyl-cytidine-32 (m3C32) modification: a subset of tRNAsSer requires N6-isopentenylation of A37. RNA. 2016 Sep;22(9):1400-10.
  3. Lamichhane TN, Arimbasseri AG, Rijal K, Iben JR, Wei FY, Tomizawa K, Maraia RJ. Lack of tRNA-i6A modification causes mitochondrial-like metabolic deficiency in S. pombe by limiting activity of cytosolic tRNATyr, not mito-tRNA. RNA. 2016 Apr;22(4):583-96
  4. Maraia RJ,Rijal, K.; Structural biology: A transcriptional specialist resolved. Nature 2015, 528(7581):204-5
  5. Rijal K,Arimbasseri AG, Maraia R.J.; A methods review on use of nonsense suppression to study 3' end formation and other aspects of tRNA biogenesis.Gene. 2015, 556(1):35-50.
  6. Rijal K., Bao X.,and Chow C. S.; Amino-acid-linked platinum (II) analogues have altered specificity for RNA compared to cisplatin. Chem. Commun. 2014, 50(30):3918-20.
  7. Arimbasseri AG, Rijal K,Maraia R.J.; Comparative overview of RNA polymerase II and III transcription cycles with focus on RNA polymerase III termination and reinitiation. Transcription 2013 Dec10:4(6).
  8. Arimbasseri AG, Rijal K,Maraia R.J.; Transcription termination by the eukaryotic RNA polymerase III. BiochimBiophysActa 2013, 1829(3-4): 318-30.
  9. Rijal K. and Maraia R.J.; RNA polymerase III mutants in TFIIFα-like C37 cause terminator read through with no decrease in transcription output.Nucleic Acids Res. 2013 41(1): 139-55.
  10. Iben JR, Mazeika JK, Hasson S, Rijal K, Arimbasseri AG, Russo AN, Maraia R.J.; Point mutations in the Rpb9-homologous domain of Rpc11 that impair transcription termination by RNA polymerase III. Nucleic Acids Res. 2011, 39(14):6100-13
  11. Rijal K. and Chow C.S.; A New Role for Cisplatin: Probing Ribosomal RNA Structure. Chem. Commun. 2009, 107-109.
  12. Rijal K., Lee H.C., and Sohng J.K.; Cloning, expression and comparison of cytochromes p450 from Streptomyces hygroscopicus NRRL3602 with its homologues. J. Biomolecule Reconstruction 2004, 1: 9-24.

Presentations:

Invited Conference Talks

  1. Keshab Rijaland Richard J. Maraia. RNA polymerase III termination mutants in Rpc1 and other subunits cluster in the composite catalytic center. 17th Biennial Meeting On post-Initiation Activities of RNA Polymerases, Mt. Lake Resort, VA USA; Oct 30- Nov 2, 2014.
  2. Keshab Rijaland Richard J. Maraia. RNA polymerase III mutants in TFIIFα-like C37 cause terminator readthrough with no decrease in transcription output. 16th Biennial Meeting On post-Initiation Activities of RNA Polymerases, Mt. Lake Resort, VA USA; Nov 1-4, 2012
  3. Keshab Rijal and Richard J. Maraia. RNA polymerase III mutants in the TFIIa –like Rpc37p subunit that impairs transcription termination but not pol III transcription output. 8th International Biennial Conference on RNA Polymerases I and III, The Airlie Center, VA USA; June 7-11, 2012.
  4. Keshab Rijal and Christine S. Chow; Probing the Accessible Sites in the Ribosome with Cisplatin and its Analogues. 11th Annual Meeting MI RNA Society, Michigan State University, Lansing MI; March 27,2010.
  5. Keshab Rijal and Christine S. Chow; Exploring Potential Drug Target Sites in the Ribosome with Cisplatin and its Analogues. Rustbelt RNA Meeting, Mt. Sterling, OH; Oct 16-17, 2009.

Selected Conference Posters

  1. Keshab Rijaland Richard J. Maraia. RNA polymerase III termination mutants in Rpc1 and other subunits cluster in the composite catalytic center.CCR RNA Biology Initiative Symposium, Natcher Conference Center at NIH, March 11-12, 2015
  2. Keshab Rijaland Richard J. Maraia. RNA polymerase III termination mutants in Rpc1 and other subunits cluster in the composite catalytic center. 9th Internation Biennial Conference on RNA Polymerases I, III, IV and V. The University of Michigan, MI USA; June 19-22, 2014)
  3. Keshab Rijal and Richard J. Maraia. RNA polymerase III mutants in TFIIFα-like Rpc37p subunit impair transcription termination and RNA 3’ end cleavage.NIH Research Festival, Natcher Conference Center at NIH, Oct 9-12, 2012 (FARE abstract winner poster)
  4. Keshab Rijal and Christine S. Chow; Exploring Potential Drug Target Sites in the Ribosome with Cisplatin and its Analogues. 14th National Annual Meeting of the RNA Society, Madison, WI; May 29- June 3,2009.
  5. Keshab Rijal and Christine S. Chow; Exploring Potential Drug Target Sites in the Ribosome with Cisplatin and its Analogues. The 10th Michigan RNA Society Meeting, Albion College, Albion, MI; Apr 11,2009.
  6. Keshab Rijal and Christine S. Chow; A New Role for Cisplatin: Probing Ribosomal RNA Structure. Rustbelt RNA Meeting, Mt. Sterling, OH Oct 19-20,2007.
  7. Keshab Rijal,Edna Lamsen and Christine S. Chow; A New Role for Cisplatin: Probing Ribosomal RNA Structure. 9th Annual Meeting Michigan RNA Society, Ann Arbor, MI Apr 14, 2007.

HONORS AND AWARDS

  • Fellows Award for Research Excellence (FARE) 2013, National Institute of Health
  • Summer Dissertation Fellowship 2009, Graduate School, Wayne State University
  • Award for Excellence in Teaching (Fall 2007),Graduate School, Wayne State University

COMMUNITY SERVICE

  • Judge: NIH FARE Awards (Chief Judge for 2014), NIH post-bac poster day (2012)
  • Co-chair of organizing committee of 6th annual T. T. Tchen Memorial Biochemistry Lecture series (2008)
  • Journal Reviewer RSC Journals (Chemical Communications and Molecular Biosystems), Co-review with PI (Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Nucleic Acids Research)

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

  • American Chemical Society – Member (2006- present)
  • Phi Lambda Upsilon-Honorary Chemical Society (Alpha Psi chapter) – invited member (2007-present) and Treasurer alpha psi chapter Wayne State University for 2007
  • Golden Key International Honorary Society, invited member (2008- present)
  • RNA Society – Member (2009-present)

OTHER TRAINING

  • Grant Writing workshops at NIH
  • TECH 508 class ( Food and Drug Law For Scientists)
  • Advanced Business Writing workshop at NIH

Rijal –CV Page 1 of 4