AREA OF RESEARCH - EKTA KHATTAR

Area of Specialization: Telomere Biology, Cancer

Academic Experience: 5+ years

* 5 years Post-Doctoral research in Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR, Singapore.

* 9+ months as a DBT-Ramalingaswami Fellow at National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Mumbai, India.

Education

Mar 2012 - Mar 2017:
Post-Doctoral Fellow Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*Star, Singapore.

Sep 2005 - Oct 2010:
Ph.D International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology India.

Jul 2003 - June 2005:
M.Sc (Microbiology) University of Delhi South Campus, India.

Jul 2000 - June 2003:
B.Sc (Microbiology) Gargi College, University of Delhi, India. 

Research Publications (*Corresponding author)

Research Articles (Published)

1. Telomerase inhibitor MST-312 and quercetin synergistically inhibit cancer cell proliferation by promoting DNA damage. Stina George Fernandes, Kavita Gala, Ekta Khattar*; Translational Oncology; 2023; IF:4.802.
2. Rap1 regulates hematopoietic stem cell survival and affects oncogenesis and response to chemotherapy. Ekta Khattar, Kyaw Ze Ya Maung, Chen Li Chew, Arkasubhra Ghosh, Michelle Meng Huang Mok, Pei Lee, Jun Zhang, Wei Hong Jeff Chor, Gökhan Cildir, Chelsia Qiuxia Wang, Nur Khairiah Mohd-Ismail, Desmond Wai Loon Chin, Soo Chin Lee, Henry Yang, Yong-Jae Shin, Do-Hyun Nam, Liming Chen, Alan Prem Kumar, Lih Wen Deng, Masahito Ikawa, Jayantha Gunaratne, Motomi Osato, Vinay Tergaonkar; Nature Communications; 2019; IF: 14.92.
3. Telomerase reverse transcriptase promotes cancer cell proliferation by augmenting tRNA expression. Ekta Khattar, Pavanish Kumar, Chia Yi Liu, Semih Can Akıncılar, Anandhkumar Raju, Manikandan Lakshmanan, Julien Jean Pierre Maury, Yu Qiang, Shang Li, Ern Yu Tan, Kam M Hui, Ming Shi, Yuin Han Loh, Vinay Tergaonkar; The Journal of Clinical Investigation; 2016; IF: 14.808.
4. Long-range chromatin interactions drive mutant TERT promoter activation. Semih Can Akıncılar, Ekta Khattar, Priscilla Li Shan Boon, Bilal Unal, Melissa Jane Fullwood, Vinay Tergaonkar; Cancer Discovery, 2016; IF: 39.397.
5. Telomerase regulates MYC-driven oncogenesis independent of its reverse transcriptase activity. Cheryl M Koh^#, Ekta Khattar^#, Shi Chi Leow, Chia Yi Liu, Julius Muller, Wei Xia Ang, Yinghui Li, Guido Franzoso, Shang Li, Ernesto Guccione, Vinay Tergaonkar; The Journal of Clinical Investigation; 2015; IF: 14.808. #Equal Contribution
6. Telomerase directly regulates NF-κB-dependent transcription. Arkasubhra Ghosh, Gaye Saginc, Shi Chi Leow, Ekta Khattar, Eun Myong Shin, Ting Dong Yan, Marc Wong, Zhizhuo Zhang, Guoliang Li, Wing-Kin Sung, Jianbiao Zhou, Wee Joo Chng, Shang Li, Edison Liu, Vinay Tergaonkar; Nature Communications; 2012; IF: 20.042.
7. Akt augments the oncogenic potential of the HBx protein of hepatitis B virus by phosphorylation. Ekta Khattar, Atish Mukherji, Vijay Kumar; The FEBS journal; 2012; IF: 5.542.
8. Mitogenic regulation of p27Kip1 gene is mediated by AP-1 transcription factors. Ekta Khattar, Vijay Kumar; Journal of Biological Chemistry; 2010; IF: 5.157. 

Review Articles (Published)

1. Long non-coding RNAs at work on telomeres: Functions and implications in cancer therapy. Kavita Gala, Ekta Khattar*; Cancer Letters; 2021; IF:8.679.
2. External environmental agents influence telomere length and telomerase activity by modulating internal cellular processes: Implications in human aging. Stina George Fernandes, Rebecca Dsouza, Ekta Khattar*; Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology; 2021; IF:4.86.
3. Recent Advances in Therapeutic Application of DNA Damage Response Inhibitors against Cancer. Stina George Fernandes, Prachi Shah, Ekta Khattar*; Anti-cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry; 2021; IF: 2.505.
4. Repurposing of drugs: An attractive pharmacological strategy for cancer therapeutics. Anuradha Kirtonia, Kavita Gala, Stina George Fernandes, Gouri Pandya, Amit Kumar Pandey, Gautam Sethi, Ekta Khattar*, Manoj Garg*; Seminars in Cancer Biology; 2020; IF:15.707. 

Awards and Honors:

Awarded Ramalingaswami fellowship 2015-2016: Awarded by Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India.

Senior Research Fellowship: Sep 2007-Sep 2010: Awarded by Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Govt. of India.

Junior Research Fellowship: Sep 2005-Sep 2007: Awarded by Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Govt. of India.

Qualified for NET (National Eligibility Test) and Junior Research Fellowship jointly conducted by CSIR, Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India, in June 2004 and selected for Shyama Prasad Mukherji Award.

Awarded Gold Medal for obtaining first rank in M.Sc. in Delhi University, 2005.

Awarded Gold Medal for obtaining first rank in B.Sc. in Delhi University, 2003.

Monsanto Post Graduate Scholarship by Monsanto India Pvt. Ltd: 2003-05: during post-graduation at University of Delhi South Campus. 

Publications

1. Role of Telomeres and Telomeric Proteins in Human Malignancies and Their Therapeutic Stina George Fernandes, Rebecca Dsouza, Gouri Pandya, Anuradha Kirtonia, Vinay Tergaonkar, Sook Y Lee*, Manoj Garg*, Ekta Khattar*; Cancers; 2020; IF:6.639.
2. Role of Rap1 in DNA damage response: Implications in stem cell homeostasis and cancer. Ekta Khattar*, Vinay Tergaonkar; Experimental Hematology; 2020; IF:3.084.
3. Transcriptional regulation of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) by MYC. Ekta Khattar*, Vinay Tergaonkar; Frontiers in cell and developmental biology; 2017; IF:6.684. 

Book Chapters

1. The Role of Telomeres and Telomere- associated Proteins as Components of Interactome in Cell-signaling Pathways; Ekta Khattar, Vinay Tergaonkar; 2016; Book entitled "Telomere” by Intech Open publishers.
2. Recent Advances and New Insights for the Therapeutic Intervention of Cancer; Nguyen, Nhi; Fernandes, Stina George; Khattar, Ekta; Li, Yinghui; 2018; Book entitled "Frontiers in Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery”; by Bentham Science Publishers.

Funded Research Grants

Details of the Ph.D. Students Registered At NMIMS University

Kavita Gala (Ph.D. Student)
I am investigating the therapeutic effects of telomerase inhibitors in cancer cells. I am studying the acute and chronic effects of three telomerase inhibitors in ovarian cancer cells with different p53 statuses and in isogenic cells differing in p53 statuses developed by CRISPR/Cas9. I have also determined the synergistic potential of telomerase inhibitors and an anti-oxidant in different cancer cells.

Rebecca D'Souza (Ph.D. Student)
I am studying the role of p53 in cell proliferation and DNA repair. To understand this, I have generated p53 knockout cell lines by targeted gene editing using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. The findings of my study might help in designing improved and effective cancer therapy options.

Nikita Zade (Ph.D. Student)
The harmful effects of oxidative stress have been widely reported in various cellular components. My work involves studying the effects of oxidative stress on telomeres. Telomeres are the linear ends of chromosomes and aberrations in telomeres have been associated with various cancers. The differentiating effects of oxidative stress in normal and cancer cells can help further identify novel biomarker in cancer therapy

Shrey Madeka (Ph.D. Student)
I am exploring the long-term impact that COVID-19 might have on our telomere lengthWith my project, I hope to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of how COVID-19 impacts us at the molecular level.

Meghna Jain (Ph.D. Student)
The focus of my project is to compare telomere length between populations with different combinations of co-morbidities like diabetes and hypertension. Thus by knowing the rate of telomere length changes, appropriate lifestyle adaptations can be advised for maintaining the same.