Dr.

Saima Sadaf YSP July 30, 2012

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Dr. Saima Sadaf YSP July 30, 2012

Curriculum Vitae Provide a brief CV showing education and research training, including any prizes or awards: (no more than one page)
Education and Training - Postdoctoral Fellow in Genomics and Proteomics Lab. of School of Biological Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan (December 2011-12) - Training on Capillary Electrophoresis at Queen Mary College London University, London in the Lab. of Prof. David Parrett (January 2010) - Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Biotechnology from the Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of the Punjab, Lahore (2008) - Predoctoral Research Fellow at Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY-USA (June-November, 2004) - M.Sc. Biochemistry from the Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of the Punjab, Lahore (2000) Honors and Awards - Academic distinction - First class first position throughout academic career - Recipient of highly competitive President Talent Scholarship Award during M.Sc. Biochemistry - Roll of Honor awarded in B.Sc. (1997) - Recipient of International Union for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB) young scientist travel fellowship for participation in 33rd Federation of European Biochemical Societys (FEBS) and 11th IUBMB conference held at Athens, Greece (June 26-July 03, 2008) - Higher Education Commission (HEC) approved Ph.D. Research Supervisor since 2008 Granted Patent Patent No. 139216: Applicants: Patent Granted on: A Recombinant Nucleic Acid Encoding a Protein Exhibiting Enhanced Activity for Milk Production. M. Waheed Akhtar, Saima Sadaf, M. Altaf Khan February 18, 2007

Research Projects/Grants Received Project Title Receptor binding assays of modified bovine growth hormone Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of human interleukin Recombinant production of biopharmaceutical using a prokaryotic expression system Production of recombinant cytokine of therapeutic importance Free circulating molecular markers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis Donor Agency British CouncilHigher Education Commission University of the Punjab, Lahore Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS)COMSTECH Pakistan Academy of Sciences Higher Education Commission Role As Co-PI PI PI Amount 31,000/Rs. 100,000/$ 12,000/Rs. 1.982/million Rs. 4.197/million Duration 2007-2010 2009-2010 2009-2012 Status Completed Completed In progress

Co-PI Co-PI

2010-2013 2011-2014

In progress In progress

Affiliation to Learned Bodies - Member, Executive Council of Pakistan Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PSBMB) since March 2005 - Life member PSBMB since August 2001 - Life member Proteomics Society of Pakistan since July 2009

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Dr. Saima Sadaf YSP July 30, 2012

List of Publications in International Journals* * Number all publications in international journals or book chapters, with earliest first and most recent at the end. Provide the Impact Factor (IF) of the journal and indicate your contribution the work described and the publication. Use as many pages as required. Follow the style in these examples:
List of Published Articles 1. S. Sadaf, M. A. Khan, D. B. Wilson and M. W. Akhtar. Molecular cloning, characterization and expression studies of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) somatotropin. Biochemistry Moscow, 72, 162-169. (2007) (IF: 1.058) S. Sadaf, M. A. Khan and M. W. Akhtar. Production of bubaline somatotropin by auto-induction in Escherichia coli. Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry, 47, 21-26. (2007) (IF: 1.943) M. A. Khan, S. Sadaf and M. W. Akhtar. Role of silent gene mutations in the expression of caprine growth hormone gene in Escherichia coli. Biotechnology Progress, 23, 1049-1052. (2007) (IF: 2.34) S. Sadaf, M. A. Khan and M. W. Akhtar. Expression enhancement of bubaline somatotropin gene in E. coli through modifications in 5 -coding region. Journal of Biotechnology, 135, 134-139. (2008) (IF: 3.045) N. Ikram, S. Naz, S. Sadaf and M. W. Akhtar. Overexpression of carboxypeptidase of extreme thermophile Pyrococcus furiosus in Escherichia coli. Pakistan Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 41, 57-61. (2008) N. S. Zaidi, S. Sadaf and M. W. Akhtar. Cloning and overexpression of Pyrococcus furiosus endoglucanase A gene (eglA) in Escherichia coli. Pakistan Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 41, 172-175. (2008)

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M. A. Khan, S. Sadaf, M. Sajjad and M. W. Akhtar. Production enhancement and refolding of caprine growth hormone expressed in Escherichia coli. Protein Expression and Purification, 68: 85-89. (2009) (IF: 1.587) 8. N. Ikram, S. Naz, M. I. Rajoka, S. Sadaf and M. W. Akhtar. Enhanced production of subtilisin of Pyrococcus furiosus expressed in Escherichia coli using auto-inducing medium. African Journal of Biotechnology, 8: 5867-72. (2009) (IF: 0.57) 9. N. Ikram, S. Naz, S. Sadaf and M. W. Akhtar. Characterization of novel protease producing Serratia sp. isolated from soil. Pakistan Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 42, 165-172. (2009) 10. S. Naz, N. Ikram, M. I. Rajoka, S. Sadaf and M. W. Akhtar (2010) Enhanced production and characterization of -glucosidase from Bacillus halodurans expressed in Escherichia coli. Biochemistry Moscow, 75, 513-518. (2010) (IF: 1.058) 11. S. Naz, N. Ikram, S. Sadaf and M. W. Akhtar. 5 -end coding sequence of -glucosidase gene of Bacillus halodurans determines the rate of expression and folding of the product in E. coli. Pakistan Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 43, 153-158. (2010) 12. M. A. Khan, S. Sadaf and M. W. Akhtar. Sequence analysis, high level expression and one-step purification of recombinant caprine growth hormone. Pakistan Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 43, 163-168. (2010) 13. R. Gul, F. Ghafoor, S. Sadaf and M. W. Akhtar. Developing an improved competitive enzyme immunoassay for Beetal caprine growth hormone. Pakistan Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 44, 148-152. (2011) 14. S. Sadaf, S. Bashir and M. W. Akhtar. Enhanced production and refolding of human leptin expressed in Escherichia coli. Pakistan Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 45, 15-19. (2012) Manuscripts Accepted 1. Ruquyya Gul, Saima Sadaf and M. Waheed Akhtar. Expression and sequence characterization of growth hormone binding protein of Nili-Ravi buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). African Journal of Biotechnology (Accepted: January 03, 2012) (IF: 0.57) 2. S. Sadaf, M. W. Akhtar, Z. Iqbal. Pharmaceutical and biotech product patents: Existence and breadth of protection still under the shadow of uncertainty in Pakistan. Nature Biotechnology (Accepted July 25, 2012). (IF: 30.04)

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Dr. Saima Sadaf YSP July 30, 2012 Manuscripts under Consideration 1. Polysorbate-80 improves the expression levels and stability of secretory proteins in Pichia pastoris. S. Sadaf, H. Arshad, F. Mazhar, M. W. Akhtar 2. Free-circulating microRNA - Potential biomarker in diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. S. Sadaf, N. J. Siddiqui, M. W. Akhtar 3. Study of protein biomarkers in stage-related acute and choronic amyloid leukemia. I. Gul, S. Sadaf and M. W. Akhtar Brief Research Contribution Achieving high-level expression of proteins of commercial/therapeutic importance is often desirable for applications and to elucidate their structure-function relationship. However, many proteins, especially of the eukaryotic origin, either express poorly in E. coli or are unable to fold to their native conformation mainly because of the absence of proper folding machinery. During the last few years, we have acquired expertise in over-expressing many difficult-to-express proteins and commercially important enzymes of prokaryotic and eukaryotic origin. We have explained the impact of 5-end coding sequence, influence of rare codons and the effect of stable mRNA secondary structure formation in early downstream coding region of a gene on expression levels. Strategies have been devised to ensure expression of foreign gene in amount sufficient for further analysis and applications. We have also suggested some fermentation conditions and effective media components with which cell mass of expressing host like E. coli and or Pichia pastoris can be enhanced with resultant increase in product yield, in a cost effective manner. Refolding issues and problems associated with poor recovery during purification have also been dealt with on-column purification and refolding strategies. Another contribution is in exploring the role of circulating nucleic acids, their hypermethylation status etc. in disease diagnosis; outcomes of which will be presented in the conference.

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Dr. Saima Sadaf YSP July 30, 2012

Abstract Indicate below the abstract that is submitted by you for presentation at the YSP and the FAOBMB Congress in Bangkok (include all authors, affiliation(s) and the text of the abstract) ORAL PRESENTATION Implementing circulating microRNAs in diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction Saima Sadaf1,2, Nida J. Siddiqui2, Iram Fatima and M. Waheed Akhtar1,2
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Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 2School of Biological Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

MicroRNAs, involved in controlling the gene expression at post-transcriptional level, are the key regulator of many biological processes; synaptic plasticity, cardiovascular development, cellular differentiation/proliferation, cell death and apoptosis are to name a few. Presence of circulating miRNAs in blood and association of their aberrant expression with onset and progression of different cancers, hepatic and cardiac disorders has opened up a new field for molecular diagnosis of these pathological states. We, in the present study, have assessed the levels of some muscle- and cardiac-specific miRNAs such as miR-1, miR-33, miR-208a, miR-208b, etc. in the serum samples of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients, brought to the cardiac emergency, and have tried to correlate the levels of specific miRNA signatures, released from damaged myocardium, with the severity of disease. Quantitative RT-PCR based approach involving a single reverse transcription reaction for all miRNAs combined with realtime PCR analysis with two miR-specific DNA primers1, was used for miRNA quantification. Use of DNA primers, instead of locked nucleic acid-spiked primers, ensured specificity and accuracy in estimations. The serum samples of AMI subjects were, in parallel, subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis for identification of protein biomarkers. Results obtained from this study shall be presented and discussed.
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Balcells, I., Cirera, S. and Busk, P. K. Specific and sensitive quantitative RT-PCR of miRNAs with DNA primers. (2011) BMC Biotechnology, 11:70

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Dr. Saima Sadaf YSP July 30, 2012

Personal Statement Indicate briefly here your Research Interests and Career Goals, why you are interested to participate in the YSP Program (including what you will bring to the YSP and what you hope to gain from it): (no more than one page)
Some ten years ago, I started my professional career as a Youngest Female Faculty Member of the University of the Punjab, Lahore Pakistan passing through the tough Selection Board procedure. This was the time when I was deeply motivated by the potential applications of genetic engineering/recombinant DNA technology in agriculture, livestock, therapeutics, etc. and therefore decided to choose the field of molecular biology/biotechnology for my Ph.D. studies. It was exciting for me to learn and play with different expression vectors/host systems and device strategies for the economical production of the protein of interest, especially when your protein is difficult to express and resistant to fold into its native conformation. At some stages, I literally stuck up but then it was discussion with senior scientists and peers at the national and international scientific meetings that I was able me to carry out some useful research work and file a patent application to the Government of Pakistan during the early stages of my academic and professional career. After completion of Ph.D. studies, I got selected as Assistant Professor on Tenure Track System (TTS) and now as independent young research scientist, having research projects supported by national and international funding agencies. The field of Ph.D. research still falls in my interest areas but currently am pursuing research that mainly revolves around exploring the circulating nucleic acids (DNA, RNA, miRNA) as well as proteins that may be potential biomarkers in diagnosis/prognosis of pathological states. The ultimate objective is to use blend of genomic and proteomics approaches for early-stage diagnosis of cancer as well as acute myocardial infarction, diseases that are quite prevalent in Pakistan. To excel in this area and build a strong working research group in one of the major goals. I believe that with participation in the upcoming FAOBMB Conference with speciality of young scientists program (YSP), my research ideas will be refined and new dimensions be explored. Guidance from experts in the field and discussion with peers will, for sure, add up to my knowledge and enable to purse the research in more effective manner with possibility of future collaboration with groups already working in these or similar areas. Furthermore, since it will be mutual sharing, which in fact is the beauty of science, peers will also get benefit from my experience and expertise in protein expression and characterization. I am therefore eager to attend both events and as young scientist from Pakistan wish to present my recent most research findings at Thailand. My participation in YSP and FAOBMB conference will motivate young Pakistani female scientists to contribute to the cause of Biochemistry and molecular biology.

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Dr. Saima Sadaf YSP July 30, 2012

Attachments: Letters of recommendation from two referees.

Two Recommendation Letters (as attachment) 1. Prof. Dr. Waheed Akhtar Director, School of Biological Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore Pakistan

2. Prof. Dr. A. M. Khalid Head, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Sargodha, Sargodha Pakistan

Submission methods: You can apply in either of two ways: by sending an email with scanned attachments to the Chair of the FAOBMB Fellowship Committee, Prof. Piamsook Pongsawasdi: Piamsook.P@Chula.ac.th or P.Piamsook@gmail.com This is the preferred method. If using this method, please assemble the Application Form and the Attachments into a single PDF file. by sending a hard copy of the application form and supporting documents to: Professor Piamsook Pongsawasdi, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.

Closing Date: Applications must be received by 31 July, 2012 (Bangkok time, GMT + 7 Hours). Applicants will be notified by email of the decision of the Committee by no later than 15 September, 2012.

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