Editor WJAS/AEJAES

DR. NARINDER KAUR

Name : NARINDER KAUR
Date of Birth : 11th August 1949

Designation and address :

Professor and Head,
Department of Biochemistry & Chemistry, PAU,
Ludhiana 141 004, India

Phone residence : 091-161-2452421
Phone office    : 091-161-2401961 to 401971 extension 322
Mobile          : 091-915827277
Fax             : 091-161-2400945

*** Awarded Post doctoral fellowship by Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) to work in the Department of Biochemistry & Nutrition, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Copenhegen, Denmark October 1980 to March 1982

Details of teaching/research/ positions held

• Assistant Professor 14-3-1977 to 31-12-1987
  Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
• Associate Professor 1-1-1988 to 31-12-1995

• Professor 1-1-1996 Till date -do-
  Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India

• Professor and Head 25-10-05 Till date -do-
  Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India

RESEARCH

Concepts developed

• The biochemical basis of seed filling in leguminous crops like mungbean and lentil has been established by studying in detail the enzymes of carbon and nitrogen metabolism in reproductive structures and nodules.

• Sucrose synthase acting as a marker of sink strength in mungbean, lentil and potato has been shown.

• The role of PEP carboxylase in capturing the respired CO2 in pods during seed filling of leguminous plants has been established.

• The role of carbon metabolizing enzymes i.e., PEP carboxylase, malic enzyme and isocitrate dehydrogenase has been established in providing reductant and substrates for energy yielding metabolism of bacteroids and carbon skeletons for amino acid assimilation in nodules.

• The role of gibberellic acid, kinetin and priming of chickpea seeds with water and mannitol in countering the adverse effects of water deficit and salt stress by modulation of enzyme activities of sucrose and starch metabolism in chickpea seedlings has been established.

• An inverse relationship between stolon length and tuber filling in potato has been demonstrated..

• Almost complete pathway of fructan metabolism has been elucidated by characterizing various enzymes.

• Sucrose synthase is responsible for increased seed size

• Embryo is not essential for initiating amylase activity in germinating legume seeds.

• Acid invertase is responsible for more branching leading to higher yield in chickpea crop raised from primed seeds.

• Cadmium toxicity in plants leads to increased rate of glycolysis with less production of reducing power in the form of NADPH through pentose phosphate pathway.

• Exogenous calcium can reverse the cadmium toxicity in pea as reflected by growth and enzyme activities of carbohydrate metabolism.

• Embryo is not required for the initiation of ?-amylase activity in seeds of cowpea during germination

Processes developed

• An easy and economic process for isolating inulin, a functional food and a prebiotic having applications in health and nutrition, has been developed.

• A process for producing fructose from chicory roots using exoinulinase has been developed.

Product developed

• Inulin has been prepared from chicory roots. This product in terms of purity is comparable to that available from Sigma, USA and procedure of preparation is simple.

• The synthesis of invertase, an enzyme with applications in food industry, has been increased more than two folds by including inulin as a carbon source in Kluyveromyces fragillis.

• High yielding and thermally stable inulinase producing strains for producing fructose from inulin have been identified.

Technology developed

• A very economical technology of priming seeds with water has been developed. The primed seeds showed higher chickpea yield under field conditions because of higher number of pods and increased sink strength of primed plants.

PUBLICATIONS

(i) Book

Carbohydrate Reserves in Plants-Synthesis and Regulation edited by A.K. Gupta and Narinder Kaur Publishers Elsevier Science , The Netherlnds, 2000

(ii) Research papers

Research Publications : 78
Review articles : 5

List of publications

Publication

1. Sukhija , P. S., Kaur, N. and Bhatia, I. S. 1976. Effect of irrigation on the lipid composition of taramira seed. J. Sci. Food Agric. 27 : 373-376.

2. Bhatia, I. S., Kaur, N. and Sukhija, P. S. 1978. Role of seed phosphatide as antioxidants for ghee (butter fat). J. Sci. Food Agric. 29 : 747-753

3. Kaur, N., Sukhija, P.S. and Bhatia, I.S. 1982. A comparison of seed phosphatides and synthetic compounds as antioxidants for cow and buffalo ghee (butter fat). J. Sci Food and Agric. 33 : 576-578.

4. Hoy, C.E., Holmer, G., Kaur, N., Kristein, D and Byrjalsen, I. 1982. The influence of ?-linolenic acid on fatty acid composition of rat phospholipids. Lipid forum (ed. R. Mercuse) 49-56.

5. Hoy, C. E., Holmer, G., Kaur, N., Kristein, D and Byrjalsen, I. 1983. Acyl group distribution in tissue lipids of rats fed evening primrose oil (?-linolenic acid plus linoleic acid) and soybean oil ( ?-linolenic acid plus linoleic acid). Lipids 18 : 760-771.

6. Gupta, A.K., Mamta, Kaur, N. and Singh, R. 1986. Fructosan metabolism in Cichorium intybus roots. Phytochemistry 25: 2765 2768.

7. Gupta, A. K., Kaur, N. and Nath, S. 1986. Hypocholesterolemic effect of Cichorium intybus roots in plasma and liver of rats. I.R.C.S. Medical Science 14: 212 212.

8. Kaur, N, Gupta, P.P., Nath, S and Gupta, A.K. 1986. Pathological changes in tissues of rats induced by toxic doses of 5-fluorouracil. Ind. J. Veterinary Pathology 10 : 1-6.

9. Kaur, N., Gupta, A.K. and Saijpal,S. 1988. Hypotriglyceridaemic effect of Cichorium intybus roots in ethanol injected and saturated fat-fed rats. Medical Science Research 16: 91 92.

10. Gupta, A.K., Nagpal, B., Kaur, N. and Singh, R. 1988. Mycelial and extracellular inulinases from Fusarium oxysporum grown on aqueous extract of Cichorium intybus roots. J. Chemical Technology & Biotechnology 42: 69 76.

11. Kaur, N , Nath, S, Gupta, A.K. and Gupta, P.P. 1988. Effect of 5-fluorouracil on lipid composition of liver, kidneys, testes, heart and hepatic mitochondrial membranes of rats. Annals of Biology 1: 43-48.

12. Kaur, N, Gupta, P.P., Sharma, N and Gupta, A.K. 1988 Histopathological changes following dexamethasone adminstration in rats. Ind. Vet. J. 65 : 661-663.

13. Gupta, A.K., Kaur, N. and Singh, R. 1989. Fructose and inulinase production from waste Cichorium intybus roots. Biological Wastes 29: 73 77.

14. Kaur, N., Gupta, A.K., Saijpal, S., Indu and Gupta, P.P. 1989. Triglyceride and cholesterol lowering effect of chicory roots in the liver of dexamethasone injected rats. Medical Science Research 17: 1009 1010.

15. Gupta, A.K., Nagpal, B., Kaur, N., Rathore, P. and Singh, R. 1989. Properties of invertase from Fusarium oxysporum. Proceedings Indian National Academy of Science B55, 505 512.

16. Kaur, N., Sharma, N. and Gupta, A.K. 1989. Effect of dexamethasone on lipid metabolism in rat organs. Ind. J. Biochemistry Biophysics 26: 371 376.

17. Gupta, A.K., Rathore, P., Kaur, N. and Singh, R. 1990. Production, thermal stability and immobilization of inulinase from Fusarium oxysporum. J. Chemical Technology & Biotechnology 47: 245 257.

18. Kaur, N., Gupta, A.K. and Uberoi, S.K. 1991. Cholesterol lowering effect of chicory (Cichorium intybus) roots in caffeine fed rats. Medical Science Research 19: 643 645.

19. Kaur, N., Gupta, A.K. and Uberoi, S.K. 1991. Protective role of fructose during tetrachloromethane hepatotoxicity in rats. Medical Science Research 19: 533 534.

20. Gupta, A.K., Singh, J., Kaur, N. and Singh, R. 1991. Effect of polyethylene glycol induced water deficit on germination of chickpea cultivars differing in drought tolerance. International Chickpea Newsletter 24: 38 39.

21. Gupta, A.K., Mann, P., Kaur, N. and Singh, R. 1991. Profiles of enzymes of sucrose metabolism in the leaves of chicory (Cichorium intybus) during development. Plant Science 77: 191 196.

22. Kaur, N., Jain, H., Mann, P., Gupta, A.K. and Singh, R. 1992. A comparison of properties of invertases and inulinase from chicory. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 30: 445 450.

23. Kaur, N., Kaur, M., Gupta, A.K. and Singh, R. 1992. Properties of ß fructosidases (invertases and inulinases) of Fusarium oxysporum grown on aqueous extract of Cichorium intybus roots. J. Chemical Technology and Biotechnology 53: 279 284.

24. Gupta, A.K., Kaur, M., Kaur, N. and Singh, R. 1992. A comparison of properties of inulinases of Fusarium oxysporum immobilised on various supports. J. Chemical Technology and Biotechnology 53: 293 296.

25. Gupta, A.K., Jain, H., Kaur, N. and Singh, R. 1993. Regulation of activity and properties of inulinase from roots of Cichorium intybus. (In: A. Fuchs ed. Inulin and Inulin containing crops, Elsevier, Amsterdam) Studies in Plant Science 3: 205 210.

26. Gupta, A.K., Kaur, N., Kaur, M. and Singh, R. 1993. Potential medicinal and nutritional uses of chicory roots and inulin (In: A Fuchs ed. Inulin and inulin containing crops, Elsevier Amsterdam) Studies in Plant Science 3 : 359 365.

27. Gupta, A.K., Singh, J., Kaur, N. and Singh, R. 1993. Effect of polyethylene glycol induced water stress on uptake, interconversion and transport of sugars in chickpea seedlings. Plant Physiology & Biochemistry 31: 743 747.

28. Gupta, A.K., Singh, J., Kaur, N. and Singh, R. 1993. Effect of polyethylene glycol induced water stress on germination and reserve carbohydrate metabolism in chickpea cultivars differing in tolerance to water deficit. Plant Physiology & Biochemistry 31: 369 378.

29. Gupta, A.K., Singh, D.P., Kaur, N. and Singh, R. 1994. Production, purification and immobilization of inulinase from Kluyveromyces fragilis. J. Chemical Technology and Biotechnology 59: 377 385.

30. Gupta, A.K., Kaur, N., Singh, D.P, Gill, A. and Singh, R. 1994. Inulin as a better inducer of acid invertase than sucrose. Phytochemistry 37: 125 126.

31. Gupta, A.K., Gill, A., Kaur, N. and Singh, R. 1994. High thermal stability of inulinases from Aspergillus species. Biotechnology Letters 16: 733 734.

32. Gupta, A.K., Singh, J., Kaur, N. and Singh, R. 1995. Sucrose metabolism and tuber development in potato. (In V.P. Agrawal, C.B. Sharma, S.A.H. Abidi and M.D. Zingde Edited Complex carbohydrates and Advances in Biosciences) 367 384.

33. Kaur, N., Mann, R., Gupta, A.K. and Singh, R. 1995. Effect of plant growth regulators on carbohydrate metabolism in roots of Cichorium intybus. (In V.P. Agrawal,C.B. Sharma, S.A.H. Abidi and M.D. Zingde Edited Complex carbohydrates and Advances in Biosciences) 349 356.

34. Nath, S., Kaur, N and Baruah, K.K. 1997. Effect of different doses of 5-fluoro uracil on lipid composition on total lipids, phospholipids and cholesterol content of liver in rats. . Ind. Journal of Animal Health 37 : 97-100.

35. Singh, R., Gupta, A.K., Kaur, N., Asthir, B. and Batta. S.K. (1996 ) Metabolism of carbohydrates in relation to crop productivity. J. Res. Punjab Agric. Univ. 33, 239 256.

36. Kaur, S. and Kaur, N. 1997. Effect of gibberellic acid on germination and amylase activity in chickpea seedlings germinating under salt stress. Proceedings Third Agricultural Science Congress 1997 (Edited by V.Beri, V.K. Dilawari & M.S.Bajwa) Volume 2, p 104-104.Uberoi, S.K. & Kaur, N. 1997. Effect of NaCl stress on mobilization of starch in chickpea seedlings. Proceedings Third Agricultural Science Congress 1997 (Edited by V.Beri, V.K. Dilawari & M.S.Bajwa) Volume 2, p 330-331.

37. Uberoi, S.K. & Kaur, N. 1997. Effect of NaCl stress on mobilization of starch in chickpea seedlings. Proceedings Third Agricultural Science Congress 1997 (Edited by V.Beri, V.K. Dilawari & M.S.Bajwa) Volume 2, p 330-331.

38. Gupta,A.K. and Kaur, N. (1997) Fructan storing plants A potential source of high fructose syrups. J. Sci. Ind. Res. 56 : 447-452.

39. Kochhar, A., Kaur, N and Gupta, A. K. (1997) Inulinase from Aspergillus versicolor: A potent enzyme for producing fructose from inulin. J. Sci. Ind. Res. 56 : 721-726.

40. Kaur, S., Gupta, A.K. and Kaur, N. (1998) Gibberellic acid and kinetin partially reverse the effect of water stress on germination and seedling growth in chickpea. Plant Growth Regulation 25 : 29-33.

41. Kochhar, A., Kaur, N. and Gupta, A.K. (1998) Immobilization of inulinase from Aspergillus versicolor for preparing fructose from inulin. J. Sci. Ind. Res. 57 : 184-187.

42. Gupta, A.K., Gill, A and Kaur, N. (1998) A HgCl2 insensitive and thermally stable inulinase from Aspergillus oryzae. Phytochemistry 49 : 55-58.

43. Chopra, J., Kaur, N. and Gupta, A.K. (1998) Carbohydrate status and sucrose metabolism in mung bean roots and nodules. Phytochemistry 49: 1891-1895.

44. Kochhar, A., Gupta, A.K. and Kaur, N. (1999) Purification and immobilisation of a potent inulinase from Aspergillus candidus for producing fructose from inulin . J. Sci. Food Agriculture 79 : 549-554.

45. Sharma, N. , Kaur, N and Gupta, A.K. (1998) Effect of gibberellic acid and chlorocholine chloride on tuberisation and growth of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) J. Sci. Food and Agriculture 78: 466-470.

46. Sharma, N., Kaur, N and Gupta, A.K. (1998) Effect of chlorocholine chloride sprays on carbohydrate composition and activities of sucrose metabolising enzymes in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Plant Growth Regulation 26: 97-103.

47. Kaur, S., Gupta, A.K. and Kaur, N. 1998. Gibberellin A3 reverses the effect of salt stress in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seedlings by enhancing the amylase activity and mobilization of starch in cotyledons. Plant Growth Regulation 26 : 85-90.

48. Gupta, A.K., Kaur, V and Kaur, N. 1998. Appearance of different phosphatase forms and phosphorus partitioning in nodules of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) during development. Acta Physiologia Plantarum 20 : 369-374.

49. Kaur, N., Mann, R. and Gupta, A.K. 1998. Properties of two unstable forms of sucrose phosphate synthase from non-photosynthesizing fructan storing tissues of Cichorium intybus. Plant Physiology Biochemistry (India) 25 : 109-113.

50. Singh, J., Kaur, N. and Gupta, A.K. 1999. Effect of defoliation on biomass partitioning and sucrose phosphate synthase activity in turnip (Brassica rapa L.) in “ Research and Education in Agricultural Biochemistry” ed M. Parameswaran Publishers Indian Society of Agricultural Biochemists 93-95.

51. Kaur, V., Kaur, N and Gupta, A.K. 1999. Phosphatase activity and phosphorus partitioning in nodules of developing mungbean. Acta Physiologia Plantarum 21 : 215-220.

52. Chopra, J., Kaur, N and Gupta. A.K. 2000, Ontogenic changes in enzymes of carbon metabolism in relation to carbohydrate status in developing mungbean reproductive structures. Phytochemistry 53 : 549-553.

53. Kaur, S., Gupta, A.K. and Kaur, N. 2000. Effect of GA3, kinetin and indole acetic acid on carbohydrate metabolism in chickpea seedlings germinating under water stress. Plant Growth Regulation 30 : 61-70.

54. Gupta, A.K and Kaur N. 2000 Fructan metabolism in jerusalem artichoke and chicory in “ Carbohydrate Reserves in Plants- Synthesis and Regulation” edited by A.K. Gupta & N. Kaur , Publishers Elsevier Science, The Netherlands, 223-248.

55. Gupta, A.K., Singh, J and Kaur, N. 2001. Sink development, sucrose metabolising enzymes and carbohydrate status in turnip (Brassica rapa L.). Acta Physiologia Plantarum, 23: 31-36.

56. Uberoi, S.K., Gupta, A.K. and Kaur, N. 2001. A comparison of amylase activities in kabuli chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties showing differential response to sodium chloride during seedling growth. J. Plant Biology , 28: 71-76.

57. Kaur, N., Kaur, P and Gupta , A.K. 2001. Inter organ comparison of amylases and starch content in mungbean seedlings. Acta Physiologia Plantarium 23 : 429-435.

58. Kaur, S, Gupta, A.K. and Kaur N. (2001). Salt stress and alterations in the activities of carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes in presence and absence of GA3 in chickpea seedlings. J. Plant Biology 28 : 173-180.

59. Chopra, J., Kaur, N. and Gupta A.K. (2001). Path of Photosynthate translocation and carbon partitioning in starch in developing mungbean pods. In “Biochemistry Environment and Agriculture” edited by APS Mann, S.K. Munshi & A.K. Gupta. Kalyani Publishers. 53-58.

60. Kaur, P., Gupta, A.K. and Kaur, N.(2001). Changes in amylase activity in relation to starch content of mungbean seedlings. In “Biochemistry Environment and agriculture” edited by APS Mann, S.K. Munshi & A.K. Gupta. Kalyani Publishers. 59-64.

61. Kaur, S., Gupta, A.K. and Kaur, N. (2001). Effect of Kinetin on sucrose metabolising enzymes in germinating chickpea seedlings. In “Biochemistry Environment and Agriculture” edited by APS Mann, S.K. Munshi & A.K. Gupta. Kalyani Publishers. 283-289.

62. Kaur, P., Kaur, N. and Gupta, A. K. (2001). Pattern of acid phosphatase activity during chickpea (Cicer arietinium L.) seedling growth. In “Biochemistry Environment and Agriculture” edited by APS Mann, S.K. Munshi & A.K. Gupta. Kalyani Publishers. 393-397.

63. Kaur, S., Gupta, A.K. and Kaur, N (2002) Effect of osmo- and hydropriming of chickpea seeds on seedling growth and carbohydrate metabolism under water deficit stress. Plant Growth Regulation 37 : 17-22

64. Chopra, J., Kaur, N and Gupta, A.K. (2002) A comparative developmental pattern of enzymes of carbon metabolism and pentose phosphate pathway in mungbean and lentil nodules. Acta Physiologia Plantarum 24: 67-72.

65. Kaur, S., Gupta, A.K. and Kaur, N. (2002) Effect of osmo- and hydropriming of chickpea seeds on performance of crop in the field. International Chickpea and Pigeonpea News Letter 9 : 15-17.

66. Kaur, N and Gupta, A.K. (2002) Applications of inulin and oligofructose in health and nutrition. J. Bio Sci 27 : 703-714

67. Chopra, J., Kaur, N and Gupta, A.K. (2002) Enzymes of sucrose metabolism in relation to nodule development in lentil (Lens culinaris L). in “ Sustainability of hill agriculture : emerging threats and possible solutions” edited By A C. Kapoor 338-343.

68. Kaur, V., Kaur, N and Gupta, A.K. (2002) Changes in phytic acid content and phosphatase activity in chickpea (Cicer arietinum) seeds during development in “ Sustainability of hill agriculture : emerging threats and possible solutions” edited By A C. Kapoor 333-337.

69. Kaur, S., Gupta, A.K. and Kaur, N. (2003) Effect of kinetin on starch and sucrose metabolising enzymes in salt stressed chickpea seedlings. Biologia Plantarum 46 : 67-72

70. Chopra, J., Kaur, N and Gupta, A.K. (2003) Changes in sugar content and activities of sucrose metabolising enzymes in roots and nodules of lentil. Biologia Plantarum 46 : 89-93

71. Kaur, S., Gupta, A.K. and Kaur, N. (2003) Indole acetic acid mimics the effect of salt stress in relation to enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in chickpea seedlings. Plant Growth Regulation 39 : 91-98

72. Chopra, J., Kaur, N and Gupta, A.K. (2003) The role of ammonia assimilatory enzymes in lentil roots and nodules. Biologia Plantarum 47 :105-109

73. Kaur, S., Gupta, A.K. and Kaur, N. (2003) Priming of chickpea seeds with water and mannitol overcomes the effect of salt stress on seedling growth. International Chickpea & Pigeonpea Newsletter 10: 18-20

74. Gupta, A.K., Kaur Navdeep and Kaur Narinder (2003) Preparation of inulin from chicory roots. Journal of Scientific & Ind. Research 62: 916-920.

75. Chopra, J., Kaur, N and Gupta, A.K. (2003) Changes in the activities of carbon metabolizing enzymes with pod development in lentil (Lens culinaris L.). Acta Physiologia Plantarum 25 : 185-191.

76. Kaur, N and Gupta A.K. (2004) Importance of inulin-type fructans in health. Agro Food High Tech. 15 : 46-48

77. Kaur, K., Gupta, A.K. and Kaur, N (2004) A comparative study on amylases from seedlings of tall and double dwarf wheat. J. Plant Biology 31: 111-116

78. Kaur, S., Gupta, A.K. and Kaur, N. (2005) Seed priming increases crop yield possibly by modulating enzymes of sucrose metabolism in chickpea. J. Agr. Crop Science 191 : 81-87

79. Chopra, J., Kaur, N and Gupta, A.K. (2005) Activities of sucrolytic enzymes in developing pods of lentil genotypes differing in seed size. Acta Physiologia Plantarum 27 : 89-93.

80. Chopra, J., Kaur, N and Gupta, A.K. (2005) Role of enzymes of sucrose – starch conversion in seed sink strength in mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) Biologia Plantarum

81. Kaur N and Gupta A K (2005) Signal transduction pathways under abiotic stresses in plants. Current Science 88: 1771-1780

82. Kaur P, Gupta A K and Kaur N (2005) Embryo is not required for initiation of ?-amylase activity in germinating cowpea seeds. Indian J Biochemistry Biophysics 42 : 161-165

83. Kaur P, Kaur N and Gupta A K (2005) Changes in activities of sucrose metabolising enzymes in sugar-supplemented cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata L.) seedlings. J. Plant Biology (in press)

84. Kaur N, Kaur P and Gupta A K (2005) Effect of exogenous sucrose on the enzymes of starch degradation and sucrose metabolism in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) seedlings. Indian J Biochemistry Biophysics

85. Kaur K, Sharma A, Gupta A K and Kaur N (2005) Comparison of germinating cereal grains as source of amylase rich preparations. Journal Food Science and Technology (in press)

86. Gupta A K and Kaur N (2005) Sugar signaling and carbohydrate metabolism under abiotic stresses in plants. J. Bio. Science #0 (in press)