Dr. Jagannath Jana

Assistant Professor

Interest Area(s)

My research bridges chemistry, biology, and biomaterials science, with a core focus on nucleic acid-based aptamers and biosensors. Functional DNA and RNA go far beyond their traditional roles, acting as catalysts, ligand-binding entities, and scaffolds for molecular devices. Despite their potential, key questions remain about their folding dynamics, interactions, and activation mechanisms. I address these gaps using high-resolution structural biology and advanced biophysical tools.

I also explore the structure and function of cancer-specific DNA targets, particularly G-quadruplexes in oncogene promoters and telomeres. Using high-field NMR spectroscopy and complementary techniques, I study their interactions with proteins and small molecules, facilitating rational drug design. My overarching goal is to drive biomedical innovation by solving pressing challenges in both fundamental and translational science.

Dr. Jagannath Jana is an Assistant Professor with a research focus on nucleic acid biophysics and structural biology for therapeutic development. Originally from Tamluk, West Bengal, he earned his Ph.D. from Bose Institute (Calcutta University). He conducted postdoctoral research at Institut Curie, France, and the University of Greifswald, Germany. His interdisciplinary research aims to develop nucleic acid-based therapeutics, biosensors, and nanobiotechnology solutions. Passionate about teaching and mentoring, Dr. Jana combines structural biology with drug design to address biomedical challenges.

  • Ph.D. at Bose Institute (Calcutta University) (2011-2017)
  • Thesis Title: De novo Designed of Antimicrobial Peptides and Small molecules: Potent Stabilizer of G-quadruplex Structures
  • M.Sc. in Chemistry, Vidyasagar University, W.B. (2009-2011)
  • B.Sc. in Chemistry (Hons), Midnapore College (V.U.), (2006-2009)

Assistant Professor at KR Mangalam University (2025- present)

Postdoctoral Researcher (University of Greifswald, Germany) (2019-2024)

Project: Development of innovative G-quadruplex structures

Supervisor: Professor Klaus Weisz

Postdoctoral Researcher (Institut Curie, France) (2018-2019)

Project: A novel role of 53BP1 in replication stress response   and genome maintenance

Supervisor: Professor Stephan Vagner

  1. Remodelling Ca2+ dynamics by targeting a promising E-box containing G-quadruplex at ORAI1 promoter in triple-negative breast cancer.

Chatterjee, O.ѱ; Jana, J.ѱ; Panda, S.ѱ; Dutta, A.; Sharma, A.; Saurav,S.; Motiani, R.K.; Weisz, K.; Chatterjee, S.(ѱcontributed equally).

              Cell Calcium, 2024, 123, 102944 (I.F. = 4.3)

  1. A pH-Responsive Topological Switch Based on a DNA Quadruplex-Duplex         Hybrid.

            Vianney,Y.M.; Jana,J.; Weisz, K.

            Chemistry – A European Journal, 2024, 30 (29), e202400722 (I.F. = 4.3)

  1. Impact of loop length and duplex extensions on the design of hybrid-type G-quadruplexes.

            Jana,J.; Vianney,Y.M.; Weisz, K.

            Chemical Communications, 2024, 60(7), 854-857.  (I.F. = 4.3)

  1. 53BP1 interacts with the RNA primer from Okazaki fragments to support their processing during unperturbed DNA replication.

            Leriche, M.ѱ; Bonnet, C.ѱ; Jana, J.; Chhetri, G.; Mennour, S.; Martineau, S.; Pennaneach,V.; Busso, D.;  Veaute, X.; Bertrand, P.;  Lambert, S.;  Somyajit, K.; Uguen, P.; Vagner, S.

            Cell Reports, 2023, 42(11),  113412. (I.F. = 7.5)

  1. Showcasing Different G-Quadruplex Folds of a G- Rich Sequence: Between Rule-Based Prediction and Butterfly Effect.

            Vianney, Y.M.ѱ;  Schröder, N.ѱ;  Jana, J.ѱ;  Chojetzki, G.; Weisz, K.

            Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2023,  145(40), 22194-22205.(ѱcontributed equally). (I.F. = 14.4)

  1. Guiding the folding of G-quadruplexes through loop residue interactions.

            Jana,J.; Vianney,Y.M.; Schröder,N.; Weisz, K.

            Nucleic Acids Research, 2022, 50(12), 7161-7175.  (I.F. = 16.6)

  1. Prion Derived Tetrapeptide Stabilizes Thermolabile Insulin via Conformational Trapping.

            Mukherjee, M.; Das, D.; Sarkar, J.; Banerjee, N.; Jana, J.; Bhat, J.; Reddy, J.; Bharatam, J.; Chattopadhyay, S.; Chatterjee, S.; Chakrabarti, P.

            iScience, 2021, 24(6), 102573. (I.F. = 4.6)

  1. Expanding the Topological Landscape by a G-Column Flip of a Parallel G-Quadruplex.

            Mohr, S.; Jana, J.; Vianney, Y.M.; Weisz, K.  

            Chemistry – A European Journal, 2021, 27(40), 10437-10447. (I.F. = 4.3)

  1. Thermodynamic Stability of G-Quadruplexes: Impact of Sequence and Environment.

            Jana, J.; Weisz, K.

            ChemBioChem, 2021, 22(19), 2848-2856. (I.F. = 2.6) (Top Downloaded Article)

  1. Structural motifs and intramolecular interactions in non-canonical G-quadruplexes.

            Jana, J.; Mohr, S.; Vianney, Y.M.; Weisz, K.

            RSC Chemical Biology, 2021, 2, 338-353.  (I.F. = 4.2)

  1. A Thermodynamic Perspective on Potential G-Quadruplex Structures as Silencer Elements in the MYC Promoter.

            Jana, J.; Weisz, K.

Chemistry – A European Journal, 2020, 26(71), 17242-17251. (I.F. = 4.3) (Hot Paper)

  1. Impact of a snap-back loop on stability and ligand binding to a parallel G- Quadruplex.

            Schnarr,L.; Jana, J.; Preckwinkel, P.; Weisz, K.

            The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2020, 124(14), 2778-2787. (I.F. = 2.8)

  1. Enhancement of ABA sensitivity through conditional expression of ARF10 gene in Brassica juncea exhibit fertile plants with tolerance against Alternaria brassicicola.

Mukherjee, A.; Mazumder, M., Jana; J., Srivasatava, A.K.; Mondal, B.; De, A.; Ghosh, S.; Saha, U.; Bose, R.; Chatterjee, S.; Dey, N.; Basu, D.  

            Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, 2019, 32(10), 1429-1447. (I.F. = 3.5)

  1. Nrf-2 transcriptionally activates P21Cip/WAF1 and promotes A549 cell survival against oxidative stress induced by H2O2.

            Jana, S.; Patra, K.; Jana, J., Mandal, D.P. and Bhattacharjee, S.

            Chemico-Biological Interactions, 2018, 285, 59-68. (I.F. = 4.7)

  1. Spatial Position Regulates Power of Tryptophan: Discovery of Major Groove Specific Nuclear Localizing Cell Penetrating Tetrapeptide.

Bhunia, D.; Mondal, P.; Das, G.; Saha, A.; Sengupta, P.; Jana, J.; Mohapatra, S.; chatterjee, S.; Ghosh, S.

            Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2018, 140 (5), 1697-1714. (I.F. = 14.4)

  1. LINCRNA00273 promotes cancer metastasis and its G-Quadruplex promoter can serve as a novel target to inhibit cancer invasiveness.

Jana, S.ѱ; Jana, J.ѱ; Patra, K.; Mondal, S.; Bhat, J.; Sarkar, A.; Sengupta, P.; Biswas, A.; Mukherjee, M.; Tripathi, S.P.; Gangwal, R.; Sangamwar, A.T.; Mukherjee, G.; Bhattarjee, S.; Mandal, D.; Chatterjee, S.

            Oncotarget, 2017, 8, 110234. (ѱcontributed equally).  (I.F. = 3.4)

  1. A Small Molecule Impedes Insulin Fibrillation: Another New Role of Phenothiazine Derivatives.

Mukherjee, M.; Jana, J.; Chatterjee, S.  

            Chemistry Open, 2017, 7(1), 68-79. (I.F. = 2.5)

  1. Restriction of telomerase capping by short non-toxic peptides via arresting telomeric G-quadruplex: a novel avenue in anti-cancer therapy.

            Jana, J.; Sengupta, P.; Mondal, S.; Chatterjee, S.

            RSC Advances, 2017, 7, 20888-20899. (I.F. = 3.9)

  1. Chelerythrine down regulates expression of VEGFA, BCL2 and KRAS by arresting G-Quadruplex structures at their promoter regions.

            Jana, J.; Mondal, S.; Bhattacharya, P.; Saha, P.; Kundu, P.; Chatterjee, S.

            Scientific Reports, 2017, 7, 40706. (I.F. = 4.3)

  1. Myricetin arrests human telomeric G-quadruplex structure: a new mechanistic approach as an anticancer agent.

            Mondal, S.; Jana, J.; Sengupta, P.; Jana, S.; Chatterjee, S.

            Molecular Biosystems, 2016, 12, 2506-2518. (I.F. = 3.0)

  1. Functional characterization of Rorippa indica defensin and its efficacy against Lipaphis erysimi.

Sarkar, P.; Jana, J.; Chatterjee, S.; Sikdar, S. R.

            Springerplus, 2016, 5, 511. (I.F. = 1.85)

  1. Parkia javanica Extract Induces Apoptosis in S-180 Cells via the Intrinsic Pathway of Apoptosis.

Patra, K.; Jana, S.; Sarkar, A.; Karmakar, S.; Jana, J.; Gupta, M.; Mukherjee, G.; De, U. C.; Mandal, D. P.; Bhattacharjee, S.

            Nutrition and Cancer, 2016, 68 (4), 689-707. (I.F. = 2.9)

  1. Reverse Watson-Crick G-G base pair in G-quadruplex formation.

            Mondal, S.; Bhat, J.; Jana, J.; Mukherjee, M.; Chatterjee, S.

            Molecular Biosystems, 2016, 12 (1), 18-22. (I.F. = 3.0)

  1. Plant alkaloid chelerythrine induced aggregation of human telomere sequence–a unique mode of association between a small molecule and a quadruplex.

            Ghosh, S.ѱ; Jana, J.ѱ; Kar, R. K.ѱ; Chatterjee, S.; Dasgupta, D.

            Biochemistry, 2015, 54(4), 974-986. (ѱ contributed equally). (I.F. = 2.9)

  1. Protective effect of antioxidant rich aqueous curry leaf (Murraya koenigii) extract against gastro-toxic effects of piroxicam in male Wistar rats.

            Firdaus, S. B.; Ghosh, D.; Chattyopadhyay, A.; Dutta, M.; Paul, S.; Jana, J.; Basu, A.; Bose, G.; Lahiri, H.; Banerjee, B.

            Toxicology Reports, 2014, 1, 987-1003. (I.F. = 3.95)

  1. Antitumorigenic potential of linalool is accompanied by modulation of oxidative stress: an in vivo study in sarcoma-180 solid tumor model.

            Jana, S.; Patra, K.; Sarkar, S.; Jana, J.; Mukherjee, G.; Bhattacharjee, S.; Mandal, D. P.

            Nutrition and Cancer, 2014, 66 (5), 835-848. (I.F. = 2.9)

  1. Indolicidin targets duplex DNA: structural and mechanistic insight through a combination of spectroscopy and microscopy.

            Ghosh, A.; Kar, R. K.; Jana, J.; Saha, A.; Jana, B.; Krishnamoorthy, J.; Kumar, D.; Ghosh, S.; Chatterjee, S.; Bhunia, A.

            ChemMedChem, 2014, 9 (9), 2052-2058. (I.F. = 3.6)

  1. Sequence context induced antimicrobial activity: insight into lipopolysaccharide permeabilization.

            Ghosh, A.ѱ; Datta, A.ѱ; Jana, J.ѱ; Kar, R. K.; Chatterjee, C.; Chatterjee, S.; Bhunia, A.

            Molecular Biosystems, 2014, 10(6), 1596-1612.(ѱ contributed equally). (I.F. = 3.0)

  1. Human cathelicidin peptide LL37 binds telomeric G-quadruplex.

            Jana, J.; Kar, R. K.; Ghosh, A.; Biswas, A.; Ghosh, S.; Bhunia, A.; Chatterjee, S.,  Molecular Biosystems, 2013, 9 (7), 1833-1836. (HOT Article as recommended by the referees). (I.F. = 3.0)

  1. Novel G-quadruplex stabilizing agents: in-silico approach and dynamics.

Kar, R. K.; Suryadevara, P.; Jana, J.; Bhunia, A.; Chatterjee, S.

            Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, 2013, 31 (12), 1497-1518. (I.F. = 4.4 )

  1. National seminar on Chemistry in the 21st Century for the Benevolence of the Society. (July 2011) at Vidyasagar College, Kolkata.
  2. International Symposium (RTRC-2011) on Recent Trends of Research in Chemistry. (November 2011) at Midnapore College, W.B.
  3. International Conference on Informatics & Integrative Biology (CIIB-2011). (December 2011) at Bose Institute, Kolkata.
  4. Participated in the 5th Bruker Pre-NMRS Symposium 2013 at IIT Bombay on 3rd FEB.
  5. Participated in the 19th National Magnetic Resonance Society Meeting (NMRS-2013) at IIT Bombay during 3-6th FEB, 2013.
  6. 4th Indian Peptide Symposium (IPS 2013) at SINP, Kolkata during Feb 21-22, 2013.
  7. Attended the ‘Workshop on Multidimensional NMR and its Application’ held in IISC, Bangalore during March 7-9, 2013. (selected out of 30 participants)
  8. Participated in the 21st National Magnetic Resonance Society Meeting (NMRS-2015) at GNDU Amritsar during 6-9th March, 2015.
  9. Participated and presented poster in International Symposium on Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery (ISCBDD-2016) during 1-3rd March, 2016.
  10. Attended workshop on Molecular Docking, Virtual Screening & Biologics Discovery hosted by Schrodinger and Bose Institute, Department of Biophysics, Kolkata, India on 5th and 6th December 2016.
  11. Participated in conference on G-QUADRUPLEXES: BENCHMARKING FROM STRUCTURES TO FUNCTIONS held in Institut Curie, Paris, France on 20th February, 2018.
  12. Attended workshop G-NMR School 2020 hosted by Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, taking place in Göttingen, Germany from February 17 – February 21, 2020.
  13. Oral presentation in 8th International Meeting on Quadruplex Nucleic Acids, Marienbad, Czech Republic, during 27 June 2022 – 1 July 2022.

Vianney, Y.M., Jana, J., Schröder, N., Weisz, K.  Nucleic Acid Structure and Biology. In Nucleic Acid Biology and its Application in Human Diseases. Springer Nature, Singapore. (2023).

  1. Qualified IIT Entrance Examination (JAM-2009/2010) (For pursuing M.Sc. in IIT)
  2. Merit Cum Means Scholarship from W.B. Govt. (2010-2011)
  3. CSIR Fellowship (2011) (For pursuing Ph.D.)