Anand
Chopra

Dr. Anand Chopra is an Azrieli International Postdoctoral Fellow in The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

Anand is working to elucidate the biological roles of enzymes that regulate lysine methylation: a covalent modification occurring on lysine residues of proteins.

Lysine methylation is dynamic as there are distinct enzyme families which “write” and “erase” the modification. Anand is researching a “writer” known as SETD6 which is involved in cellular processes, such as inflammation and several cancerous phenotypes. SETD6 is known to methylate several proteins; however, unlike other “writers” of lysine methylation, there is no known “eraser” to oppose its activity. Using cutting-edge biochemical and cellular tools, Anand is looking to identify a lysine demethylase which antagonizes the activity of SETD6. Through his research, Anand hopes to contribute to understanding how lysine methylation regulates fundamental biological processes.

Anand was born in Ottawa, Canada. He obtained a BSc in biochemistry and biotechnology at Carleton University. During summer research internships and his fourth-year honours thesis project, he worked in Prof. William Willmore’s lab and conducted research focused on the regulation of proteins in response to cellular stressors, such as hypoxia. He went on to conduct his PhD research in the field of lysine methylation under the co-supervision of Prof. Willmore and Prof. Kyle Biggar at Carleton University. Anand focused on creating new biochemical methodologies to study the functions and inherent characteristics of lysine demethylases. In his free time, Anand enjoys tasting different cuisines, cooking, travelling, going to the gym, kayaking, hiking, and relaxing by the water.