Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Structural Biology, Developmental Biology, Cancer Research
5
Scopus Publications
67
Scholar Citations
5
Scholar h-index
3
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
Role of death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) in retinal degenerative diseases: an in-silico approach towards therapeutic intervention Arman Firoz, Priti Talwar Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, 2024 The Death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) has emerged as a crucial player in the pathogenesis of degenerative diseases. As a serine/threonine kinase family member, DAPK1 regulates critical signaling pathways, such as apoptosis and autophagy. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed DAPK1 interactors and enriched molecular functions, biological processes, phenotypic expression, disease associations, and aging signatures to elucidate the molecular networks of DAPK1. Furthermore, we employed a structure-based virtual screening approach using the PubChem database, which enabled the identification of potential bioactive compounds capable of inhibiting DAPK1, including caspase inhibitors and synthetic analogs. Three selected compounds, CID24602687, CID8843795, and CID110869998, exhibited high docking affinity and selectivity towards DAPK1, which were further investigated using molecular dynamics simulations to understand their binding patterns. Our findings establish a connection between DAPK1 and retinal degenerative diseases and highlight the potential of these selected compounds for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. This study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying DAPK1-related diseases, and offers new opportunities for the discovery of effective treatments for retinal degeneration. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
Vitamin-D3 (α-1, 25(OH) 2D3) protects retinal pigment epithelium from hyperoxic insults Ponnalagu Murugeswari, Arman Firoz, Subramani Murali, Anand Vinekar, Lekshmi Krishna, et al. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 2020 Purpose Oxidative stress affects the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) leading to development of vascular eye diseases. Cholecalciferol (VIT-D) is a known modulator of oxidative stress and angiogenesis. This in vitro study was carried out to evaluate the protective role of VIT-D on RPE cells incubated under hyperoxic conditions. Methods Cadaver primary RPE (PRPE) cells were cultured in hyperoxia (40% O2) with or without VIT-D (α-1, 25(OH) 2D3). The functional and physiological effects of PRPE cells with VIT-D treatment were analyzed using molecular and biochemical tools. Results Vascular signaling modulators, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Notch, were reduced in hyperoxic conditions but significantly upregulated in the presence of VIT-D. Additionally, PRPE conditioned medium with VIT-D induced the tubulogenesis in primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) cells. VIT-D supplementation restored phagocytosis and transmembrane potential in PRPE cells cultured under hyperoxia. Conclusions VIT-D protects RPE cells and promotes angiogenesis under hyperoxic insult. These findings may give impetus to the potential of VIT-D as a therapeutic agent in hyperoxia induced retinal vascular diseases.
In silico binding and interaction studies of inflammatory mediators in Isoniazid and Rifampicin induced toxicity against vitamin B12 and beta-carotene Research Journal of Pharmaceutical Biological and Chemical Sciences, 2015
RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Modeling Bardet-Biedl Syndrome Using Human Retinal Organoids. KR Chirco, A Firoz, RC Ryals, G Sahay, P Yang, M & Neuringer Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 2026 , 2026 2026
Robust Protocol for Generating Non-human Primate Retinal Organoids from Rhesus Macaque iPSCs A Firoz, J Stoddard, RS Reynaga, M Neuringer, TJ McGill, KR & Chirco Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 2026 , 2026 2026
In Silico Drug Discovery of Solanum torvum as a Phytotherapeutic Aromatase Inhibitor for PCOS-Induced Infertility: A Comparative Study with FDA-Approved Drugs AA Choudhury, A Bhattarai, S Sahoo, SD Roy, NA Laskar, A Firoz In Silico Research in Biomedicine , 2025 2025 Citations: 6
Role of death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) in retinal degenerative diseases: an in-silico approach towards therapeutic intervention A Firoz, P Talwar Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics 42 (11), 5686-5698 , 2023 2023 Citations: 13
Genome-wide screening and identification of potential kinases involved in endoplasmic reticulum stress responses A Firoz, P Ravanan, P Saha, T Prashar, P Talwar Life Sciences 317, 121452 , 2023 2023 Citations: 6
Crosstalk between SARS-2 Infection and Cancers: A Precautionary Insight on Long Non-Coding RNA P Talwar, A Firoz, P Ravanan 2023
Editorial overview: COVID-19 therapy: From lung disease to systemic disorder NA Fierro, J Torres-Flores, S Mirazo Current Opinion in Pharmacology 65, 102246 , 2022 2022
COVID-19 and Retinal Degenerative Diseases: Promising link “Kaempferol” A Firoz, P Talwar Current Opinion in Pharmacology , 2022 2022 Citations: 21
Vitamin-D3 (α-1, 25(OH) 2D3) Protects Retinal Pigment Epithelium From Hyperoxic Insults P Murugeswari, A Firoz, S Murali, A Vinekar, L Krishna, VR Anandula, ... Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science February 2020 61 (02) , 2020 2020 Citations: 21
Cross talk between EGFR and Telomerase in Glioblastoma A Firoz, S Martin, A Ghosh NextGen Genomics, Biology, Bioinformatics and Technologies (NGBT) Conference , 2019 2019
In silico Binding and Interaction Studies of Inflammatory Mediators in Isoniazid and Rifampicin Induced Toxicity against Vitamin B12 and Beta- Carotene EPS Sherry Joseph M, Udhaya LavinyaB, Sanchi M Dhinoja, Arman Firoz, Saikat ... Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences, 1436-1440 , 2015 2015
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
COVID-19 and Retinal Degenerative Diseases: Promising link “Kaempferol” A Firoz, P Talwar Current Opinion in Pharmacology , 2022 2022 Citations: 21
Vitamin-D3 (α-1, 25(OH) 2D3) Protects Retinal Pigment Epithelium From Hyperoxic Insults P Murugeswari, A Firoz, S Murali, A Vinekar, L Krishna, VR Anandula, ... Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science February 2020 61 (02) , 2020 2020 Citations: 21
Role of death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) in retinal degenerative diseases: an in-silico approach towards therapeutic intervention A Firoz, P Talwar Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics 42 (11), 5686-5698 , 2023 2023 Citations: 13
In Silico Drug Discovery of Solanum torvum as a Phytotherapeutic Aromatase Inhibitor for PCOS-Induced Infertility: A Comparative Study with FDA-Approved Drugs AA Choudhury, A Bhattarai, S Sahoo, SD Roy, NA Laskar, A Firoz In Silico Research in Biomedicine , 2025 2025 Citations: 6
Genome-wide screening and identification of potential kinases involved in endoplasmic reticulum stress responses A Firoz, P Ravanan, P Saha, T Prashar, P Talwar Life Sciences 317, 121452 , 2023 2023 Citations: 6
Modeling Bardet-Biedl Syndrome Using Human Retinal Organoids. KR Chirco, A Firoz, RC Ryals, G Sahay, P Yang, M & Neuringer Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 2026 , 2026 2026
Robust Protocol for Generating Non-human Primate Retinal Organoids from Rhesus Macaque iPSCs A Firoz, J Stoddard, RS Reynaga, M Neuringer, TJ McGill, KR & Chirco Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 2026 , 2026 2026
Crosstalk between SARS-2 Infection and Cancers: A Precautionary Insight on Long Non-Coding RNA P Talwar, A Firoz, P Ravanan 2023
Editorial overview: COVID-19 therapy: From lung disease to systemic disorder NA Fierro, J Torres-Flores, S Mirazo Current Opinion in Pharmacology 65, 102246 , 2022 2022
Cross talk between EGFR and Telomerase in Glioblastoma A Firoz, S Martin, A Ghosh NextGen Genomics, Biology, Bioinformatics and Technologies (NGBT) Conference , 2019 2019
In silico Binding and Interaction Studies of Inflammatory Mediators in Isoniazid and Rifampicin Induced Toxicity against Vitamin B12 and Beta- Carotene EPS Sherry Joseph M, Udhaya LavinyaB, Sanchi M Dhinoja, Arman Firoz, Saikat ... Research Journal of Pharmaceutical, Biological and Chemical Sciences, 1436-1440 , 2015 2015
