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Mumtaz Anwar

University of Illinois at Chicago

Mumtaz Anwar, Ph.D., is currently an assistant professor (research) at the Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, USA. Dr. Anwar obtained his Ph.D. in Cancer Biology and Molecular Epigenetics at the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India. His Ph.D. thesis concerned the investigation of the Wnt signaling pathway in search of new tumor prognostics and biomarkers in colorectal cancer. After completing his Ph.D., he studied epigenetic approaches and other molecular cell signaling mechanisms (in vitro and in vivo) in the context of vascular biology of the lungs at the University of Illinois Chicago. He is a member of various scientific organizations and societies including the American Heart Association (AHA), American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET), North American Vascular Biology Organization (NAVBO), and the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP). He is the recipient of various awards including the Outstanding Young Investigator Travel Award.

2books edited

4chapters authored

Latest work with IntechOpen by Mumtaz Anwar

p53 is a protein that plays an important role in the regulation of cell division and thereby offers protection to the cell against malignant transformation. This is the most well-studied and most appreciated role of p53, due to which the protein is famously known as the “guardian of the genome.” It is the most studied protein in all forms of cancer research, with much of this research investigating p53’s role in tumor suppression. However, research has also shown that p53 plays a role in a wide range of other cellular functions, like serving as a biomarker for environmental pollution. Even as a tumor suppressor and transcription factor, many aspects of p53 function are still obscure, and research in the field is continually attempting to shed light on these functions. This book examines and discusses the myriad roles of p53 and different aspects of its functions. Chapters examine p53 in cancer prevention, DNA repair, gene regulation, and more.

p53

p53

Edited by Mumtaz Anwar

Books edited

Epigenetics to Optogenetics

Epigenetics to Optogenetics

Edited by Mumtaz Anwar

Chapters authored

Evolution of Epigenome as the Blueprint for Carcinogenesis

By Zeenat Farooq, Ambreen Shah, Mohammad Tauseef, Riyaz Ahmad Rather and Mumtaz Anwar

Epigenetics “above or over genetics” is the term used for processes that result in modifications which are stably inherited through cell generations, without changing the underlying DNA sequence of the cell. These include DNA methylation, Post-translational histone modification and non-coding RNAs. Over the last two decades, interest in the field of epigenetics has grown manifold because of the realization of its involvement in key cellular and pathological processes beyond what was initially anticipated. Epigenetics and chromatin biology have been underscored to play key roles in diseases like cancer. The landscape of different epigenetic signatures can vary considerably from one cancer type to another, and even from one ethnic group to another in the case of same cancer. This chapter discusses the emerging role of epigenetics and chromatin biology in the field of cancer research. It discusses about the different forms of epigenetic mechanisms and their respective role in carcinogenesis in the light of emerging research.

Part of the book: Epigenetics to Optogenetics

Introductory Chapter: Epigenetics and Optogenetics - The Science behind the Cover Blanket of Our Genome

By Mumtaz Anwar, Thomas Heinbockel and Zeenat Farooq

Part of the book: Epigenetics to Optogenetics

Introductory Chapter: p53 - The Miracle Protein That Holds the Distinction of Being “Guardian of the Genome”

By Zeenat Farooq and Mumtaz Anwar

Part of the book: p53

p53 Tumor Suppressor: Functional Regulation and Role in Gene Therapy

By Zeenat Farooq, Shahnawaz Wani, Vijay Avin Balaji Ragunathrao, Rakesh Kochhar and Mumtaz Anwar

p53, a homo-tetrameric protein found in mammalian cells, derives its name from the fact that it settles at around 53KDa position in SDS-PAGE, due to a “kink” in its structure. In its functional state, p53 forms a homo-tetramer and binds to the promoters of a wide array of genes. Binding of p53 downregulates the transcription of target genes. Most of the gene targets of p53 are involved in cell cycle progression, and therefore, any malfunctions associated with p53 have catastrophic consequences for the cell. The gene encoding for p53 known as TP53 is the most well-studied gene in the entire genome because of being the most highly mutated gene in all cancer types. It is due to this widely accepted and documented “cell protective feature” that p53 is generally referred to as “the guardian of the genome.” In this chapter, we will discuss the involvement of p53 in relation to carcinogenesis. We will also cover the major functions of p53 under normal conditions, major mutations of the TP53 gene, and their association with different forms of cancer.

Part of the book: p53

Related collaborators

Takashi Kikukawa

Hokkaido University , Japan

Riyaz Ahmad Rather

Wachemo University

Fadime Eryılmaz Pehlivan

Istanbul University , Turkey

Zeenat Farooq

University of Illinois at Chicago , United States of America

Sivasankari Sivaprakasam

Thiruvalluvar University , India

Jun Tamogami

Matsuyama University , Japan

Brent M. Bijonowski

University of Münster , Germany

Ambreen Shah

University of Kashmir , India

Mohammad Tauseef

Chicago State University , United States of America

Vinoth Mani

Bharathiar University , India