Debashis Ghosh, Ph.D.

Dr Ghosh's new contact information is:
Debashis Ghosh, Ph.D.
Professor, Pharmacology and Upstate Cancer Research Institute
SUNY Upstate Medical University
Room 6310, Weiskotten Hall
750 East Adams Street
Syracuse, NY 13210
email:ghoshd@upstate.edu
Telephone: 315-464-9677

EDUCATION
St. Xavier's College, University of Calcutta, India, BS, 1974, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics with Honors in Physics
Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India, M.Sc., 1976, Physics
Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Calcutta, India, Post-M.Sc., 1977 Biophysics
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, Ph.D., 1981, Crystallography
Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, Post-Doc, 1983, Material Science

Research Interests.

My major research interest involves the structural biology of estrogen and androgen biosynthesis and metabolism. The methods we use are the X-ray crystallographic elucidation of three-dimensional structures of proteins as well as other biophysical/biochemical techniques.  Targets are important steroidogenic enzymes such as cytochrome P450 aromatase, estrone sulfatase types 1 and 3, 17b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, and 5a-reductases that are responsible for the biosynthesis and activation of steroids. Estrogens and androgens are responsible for the proliferation of hormone-dependent breast and prostate tumors.  One objective of our research is to design enzyme-specific ligands for anti-cancer therapy. 

In addition, in collaboration with SUNY-Buffalo ophthalmologist Dr. Federico Gonzalez-Fernandez, we are investigating the structure-function relationships of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding proteins (IRBP) linked to macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.  IRBP molecules are involved in the transportation of vitamin A from Muller cells to the photoreceptors that convert light to neural signals.  Elucidation of the molecular basis of interaction between vitamin A and IRBP will reveal functional roles of IRBP in the vision cycle.

My third project deals with the elucidation of the molecular basis of antigen mimicry by anti-idiotypic antibodies.  In collaboration with immunologist Dr. Soldano Ferrone of Roswell Park Cancer Institute, we are attempting to design rational peptide mimics of the high-molecular weight, melanoma-associated antigen (HMW-MAA) for possible use as vaccines.  The plan is also to use rationally modified recombinant fragments of HMW-MAA that could break self-antigen tolerance by the immune system and elicit antibody response against melanoma cells.