Jawahar Singh, MPMI Assistant Feature Editor
Maniraj Rathinam is a dedicated plant molecular biologist and currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India. His research centers on plant-
insect interactions, with a focus on redox-based defense mechanisms in legume wild relatives. In his recent paper published in MPMI, “Cellular Responses in the Pigeonpea Wild Relative Cajanus platycarpus to Helicoverpa armigera Herbivory: The Role of Methionine Sulfoxide Reductase B1 (CpMSRB1) in Enhanced Defense,” he uncovers how CpMSRB1 helps maintain ROS homeostasis and boosts phenylpropanoid-mediated resistance. His findings open new avenues for engineering durable insect resistance in crops through redox-regulatory pathways.
1. What do you think is the most important or exciting finding from your paper?
Our study revealed that the pigeonpea wild relative, Cajanus platycarpus, uses a redox-regulating enzyme, CpMSRB1, to protect another key enzyme, chorismate mutase (CpCM1.1), from oxidative damage during continuous Helicoverpa armigera attack. This protection helps sustain the phenylpropanoid pathway, which produces important defense-related secondary metabolites. It’s the first time an enzyme involved in secondary metabolism has been identified as a methionine sulfoxide reductase (MSR) substrate in plants, highlighting a novel link between redox homeostasis and metabolic defense.
2. Was there a piece of data that was particularly challenging to obtain or a part of the project that was particularly difficult to achieve?
Yes, achieving successful recombinant protein overexpression of CpCM1.1 and CpMSRB1 in Escherichia coli was particularly challenging. These proteins were crucial for our in vitro interaction assays. After testing multiple vectors, strains, and conditions, we eventually optimized expression using the pMAL-c2X vector in the E. coli BL21-CodonPlus system. This not only yielded high-quality protein, but also enhanced our expertise in bacterial protein expression.
3. What research project are you most excited about right now?
As a DBT-RA postdoctoral fellow at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, I’m exploring the role of CpMSRB1—previously linked to herbivory defense—in drought stress response. Since both stresses trigger ROS accumulation, I’m excited to investigate how CpMSRB1 contributes to redox homeostasis and dual stress tolerance in plants.
4. What advice would you give to graduate students starting out?
Treat science as an infinite game—keep learning, stay curious, and embrace criticism. Don’t hesitate to seek help when experiments don’t go as planned. One key lesson from my Ph.D. program was to turn unexpected results into new research directions. My current work on CpMSRB1 emerged from such an accidental, but insightful, observation.
5. Who has inspired you scientifically? Why?
I’m inspired by Dr. Louis Pasteur for his perseverance and transformative contributions to science, especially the rabies vaccine. Despite early failures and public criticism, he remained committed to research that ultimately benefited humanity—a principle I deeply value in my own scientific journey.
6. Are/were you involved in other scientific/professional development activities? How did these contribute to your training?
Yes, reviewing for journals like International Journal of Biological Macromolecules has sharpened my scientific writing and communication. I’m also passionate about scientific illustration and data visualization—skills I apply in my own work and share with junior colleagues to help present complex ideas clearly and effectively.
7. What is the greatest challenge you have encountered in your career? What did you do to overcome this challenge?
Early in my Ph.D. program, I struggled with scientific writing and lacked confidence in presenting my ideas. With guidance and encouragement from my mentor, Dr. Rohini Sreevathsa, I began writing manuscripts independently. This practice has greatly improved my skills and confidence over time.
8. How can people find you on social media?
People can find me on LinkedIn.
9. Is there anything else you would like to share in your Spotlight? If so, what is it?
C. platycarpus shows a multilayered defense against H. armigera, and several exciting findings from our ongoing work are in the pipeline. For more, I invite readers to explore Dr. Rohini Sreevathsa’s Google Scholar profile.
10. Bonus question: What’s your favorite pathogen or disease?
My favorite pest is H. armigera, as I’ve spent much of my research uncovering resistance mechanisms against it in pigeonpea wild relatives.