KAM-School of Life Sciences
Extension Number: 523
Office Number: S-441

BRIEF PROFILE
Dr Asma Maqbool holds a PhD degree in Molecular Biology from Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore. She has nearly 15 years of post-doctoral experience in Research and Teaching.  She has 33 research publications in refereed journals, 1 book publication and has supervised 3 Ph.D and dozens of BS & MPhil students.  Her research interest is to develop nutrition efficient and climate smart crops through Genetic Engineering and genome edited technologies.

EDUCATION

• Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Plant Genomics lab, University of the Punjab, Lahore Pakistan
• M. Phil in Molecular Biolog, CEMB, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
• M. Sc. In Botany, Department of Botany University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS
The research in our group at FCC focuses on developing nutrition efficient and climate-smart. Our research students are working on this objective. The most important outcome of our research is the development of transgenic wheat lines. We are utilizing transcription factors for triggering multiple genes involved in specific metabolic pathways. We have developed four types of transgenic wheat lines which are being propagated in the fields of FCC for homogeneity and are being tested for transgene expression and agronomic traits.

1. Mohsin, S., Irfan M., Malik. K. A, Maqbool, A., (2023). Metabolic Engineering of Wheat for Enhanced Vitamin B6 to Combat Hidden Hunger. Plant Molecular Biology Reporter 
   (Category X)
2. John, E., Irfan, M., Ali, S.F. Maqbool, A. Bashir A. and Malik. K.A. (2023). Development of low lignin Eucalyptus camaldulensis through down-regulation of endogenous cinnamoyl CoA reductase (CCR). Pak. J. Bot., 55(3): DOI:  (Category X)
3. Mohsin, S., Irfan M., Saeed, A., Malik. K. A, Maqbool, A., (2022) Enhanced expression of PDX1 accumulates vitamin B6 in transgenic wheat seeds. Journal of Cereal Science, 107 (2022) 103502, 
   (Category W)
4. Ijaz S., Vivian M., Maqbool A., Irfan M., Mehnaz, S., Malik K. A., Bashir A. (2022). Stacking of Hordeum vulgare vacuolar sodium/proton antiporter and a bar gene in wheat for salt and herbicide tolerance. Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology  (Category Y)
5. Akhtar A., Irfan M., Maqbool, A., and Malik. K. A (2021) A study of PTF1 interaction with phosphorus stress inducing genes and its influence on root architecture of transgenic Arabidopsis. Advancement in life Sciences 8 (3) 210-214. (Category Y)
6. Malik. K. A., Maqbool, A., (2020). Transgenic Crops for Biofortification. Front. Sustain. Food Syst.4:571402.  (Category W)
7. Zameer, Z., Mohsin, S., Hasnain, A. Maqbool A. and Kauser A. Malik (2020) Influence of explant sources on in vitro callogenesis and regeneration in maize in Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research.33(4):917-925. DOI: 10.17582/journal.pjar/2020/33.4.917.925 (Category Y)
8. Hasnain, A., Irfan, M., Bashir, Maqbool, A., Malik. K. A., (2020) A Transcription Factor TaDof1 Improves Nitrogen and Carbon Assimilation Under Low-Nitrogen Conditions in Wheat. Plant Molecular Biology Reporter 38:441–451,  (Category X)
9. Akhtar, A., Rizvi, Z., Irfan, M., Maqbool, A., Bashir, A., Kauser A. Malik  (2019) Biochemical and morphological risk assessment of transgenic wheat with enhanced iron and zinc bioaccessibility. Journal of Cereal Science 91:102881  (Category W)
10. Kanwal, M., Razzaq, A., Maqbool, A. (2019) Characterization of phytase transgenic wheat under salt stress. Biology Bulletin, 46(4) 371–380 (Category Y)
11. A.Hasnain, Maqbool, A. and Kauser A. Malik (2018) A strategy of TaDof1cassette development in plant expression vector to enhance nitrogen assimilation in wheat. The J. Anim. Plant Sci., 28(6), 1795-1802,  (Category Y)
12. Ahad, A., Maqbool, A., John, E. & Malik, K.A  (2018) Development of efficient micropropagation system for  E. camaldulensis with respect to age of explants. Pak. J. Agri. Sci., 55(1), 23-27 (Category X)
13. Mohsin, S., Maqbool, A, Ashraf, M., Malik, K.A and. (2017) Extracellular Secretion of Phytase from Transgenic Wheat Roots Allows Utilization of Phytate for Enhanced Phosphorus Uptake. Mol Biotechnol ;59(8):334-342,  DOI: 10.1007/s12033-017-0020-0 (Category X)
14. Nabeela Abid, Asia Khatoon . Asma Maqbool . Muhammad Irfan . Aftab Bashir . Irsa Asif . Muhammad Shahid . Asma Saeed . Henrik Brinch-Pedersen  and Kauser A. Malik (2017) Transgenic expression of phytase in wheat endosperm increases bioavailability of iron and zinc in grains. Transgenic Res 26(1) 109-122, doi:  (Category W)  
15. Mukhtar, S.,  MIRZA, M. S.,  Awan, H. A., Maqbool, A., Mehnaz, S., and Malik, K.A (2016) Microbial diversity and metagenomic analysis of the rhizosphere of para grass (Urochloamutica) growing under saline conditions Pak. J. Bot., 48(2): 779-791 (Category X)
16. Khan, N., Abid, N., Maqbool, A., Malik, K.A (2015). Effect of different parameters on wheat transformation efficiency. Journal of Plant Biology Research 2015, 4(4): 119-125
    http://www.inast.org/jpbr.html (Category Y)
17. Farooqi, S., Maqbool, A., Mubeen, H., and Raza, S. (2015) Analysis and amplification of Phytase gene in transgenic wheat by polymerase Chain Reaction. IOSR Journal of Pharmacy and Biological Sciences 10(5, Ver II):07-11
18. Farooq, S.,  Maqbool, A. Mubeen,  H., Raza S. (2015) Isolation & Screening of Phytase Gene by using Basta Selection Medium in transgenic Wheat Plants. IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science , Volume 8 (9) Ver. II 22-25
19. Mohsin, S.,  Malik, K.A and Maqbool, A. (2015) Comparison of phytase activity in roots of wheat varieties grown under different phosphorus conditions. Research in Biotechnology, 6(3): 31-41. (Category Y)
20. John, E., Maqbool, A. & Malik, K.A (2014) Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated optimization of transformation in Populus deltoids. Pakistan journal of botany Pak. J. Bot., 46(3): 1079-1086. (Category X)
21. Abid, N., Maqbool ⃰, A., Malik, K.A (2014) Screening commercial wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties for Agrobacterium mediated transformation ability. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences 51(1): 83-89. (Category X)
22. Ahad, A., Maqbool, A., & Malik, K.A (2014) Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated optimization of transformation in eucalyptus camaldulensis. Pakistan journal of botany. 46(2): 735-740 (Category X)
23. Yaqoob, C., Awan, H.A., Maqbool, A. & Malik, K.A (2013) Microbial diversity of the rhizosphere of kochia (Kochia indica) growing under saline conditions. Pakistan journal of botany., 45(S1): 59-65. (Category X)
24. NAZ, F.,  Maqbool, A. & Malik, K.A (2013) Degradation of legume phytate in soil using fungal phytase Pakistan journal of botany 45(3): 1017-1022. (Category X)
25. Zahur M, Maqbool A, Irfan M, Jamal A, Shahid N, Aftab B, Husnain T. (2012) Identification and Characterization of a Novel Gene Encoding Myb-Box Binding Zinc Finger Protein in Gossypium arboreum. Biologia Plantarum 56 (4): 641-647 (Category X)
26. Qaisar, U., Irfan, M., Maqbool, A., Zahur, M., Barozai, M.Y.K., Rashid, B., Riazuddin, S. and Husnain, T. (2010) Identification, Sequencing and Characterization of a stress induced homologue of Fructose Bisphosphate Aldolase from Cotton. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 01 Vol:90 pp:41-48. (Category X)
27. Maqbool, A., Abbas, W., Rao, A.Q., Irfan, M., Zahur, M., Bakhsh, A., Riazuddin,S. and Husnain,T. (2010) Gossypium arboreum GHSP26 enhances drought tolerance in Gossypium hirsutum. Biotechnology progress. 26(1) 21-25. (Category X)
28. Zahur, M., Maqbool, A., Irfan, M., Barozai, M.Y.K., Rashid, B., Riazuddin, S. and Husnain, T. (2009). Isolation and functional analysis of cotton universal stress protein promoter in response to phytohormones and abiotic stresses. Molecular Biology 43(4): 628-635 (Category W)
29. Zahur, M., Maqbool, A., Irfan, M., Barozai, K, M. Y., Qaiser,U.,Rashid, B., Husnain, T. and Riazuddin, S. (2009) Functional Analysis of Cotton Small Heat Shock Protein Promoter Region in Response to Abiotic Stresses in Tobacco Using Agrobacterium-Mediated Transient Assay. Molecular biology reports. 36:1915–1921 (Category Y)
30. Maqbool, A., Zahur, Husnain, T. and Riazuddin, S. (2009) GUSP1 & GUSP2, Two drought responsive genes with homology to universal stress proteins in Gossypium arboreum Plant Molecular Biology Reporter.27:109-114. (Category X)
31. Barozai, M.Y.K., Irfan, M., Yousaf, R., Ali, I., Qaisar, U., Maqbool, A., Zahoor, M., Rashid, B., Hussnain, T. and Riazuddin, S. (2008) Identification of micro-RNAs in cotton. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. 46 (8-9): 739-51. (Category W)
32. Maqbool, A., Zahur, M., Irfan, M., Barozai, M.Y.K., Rashid, B., Husnain, T. and Riazuddin, S. (2008) Identification and expression of six Drought responsive transcripts through differential display in Desi Cotton (Gossypium arboreum). Molecular Biology 42 (4): 559-565. (Category W)
33. Maqbool, A., Zahur, M., Irfan, M., Qaiser, U., Rashid, B., Husnain, T. and Riazuddin, S. (2007) Identification, Characterization and Expression of Drought related alpha-Crystalline Heat Shock Protein gene (GHSP26) from Desi Cotton. Crop Sci.2007; 47: 2437-2444 (Category W)

Proceeding of international seminar:

1. Maqbool, A., Zahur, M., Asif, A. R. (2011) Improved Minerals Bioavailability through Phytate Degradation, ISSDA, Gottingon, Germany 79-88. Proceeding of international seminar held in Gottingen, Germany (1-3 December 2011)

Book publication:

1. Maqbool, A., Husnain, T. (2010). Search for drought tolerant gene by differential display. VDM publisher. ISBN:978-3-639-299964-9.