Swapan Jain

• Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Boston University (2009)
  Research Advisor: Prof. Thomas Tullius
• PhD, Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology (2006)
  Research Advisor: Prof. Nicholas Hud
• BS, Chemistry & Biology, Kennesaw State University (2001)
  Research Advisors: Prof. Jennifer Powers and Prof. Kenneth Hughes

• Basic Principles of Chemistry I (Chem 141)
• Basic Principles of Chemistry II (Chem 142)
• Biochemistry (Chemistry 390)
• Analytical and Physical Laboratory Techniques (Chem 350)
• Structure and Function of Nucleic Acids (Chem 441)

The focus of our research group is the study of RNA and enzyme structure and function. Specifically, we are investigating the binding of small molecules with biologically important macromolecules.  Examples of research projects are as follows:

• Messenger RNA and Ribosomal RNA interactions with transition metal complexes containing ruthenium, iron, and platinum are studied using a variety of chemical, physical, and biological tools with the pursuit of obtaining novel and effective chemotherapeutics.
• We are also studying metabolically important enzymes such as DHFR and their binding potential to transition metal complexes containing ruthenium and platinum.  
• Riboswitches are regions in mRNA that control genetic expression upon binding of ligands. Our goals in this project are to identify structural changes that occur at the single base level upon binding of ligands to RNA. 
• In an interdisciplinary project that involves analytical chemistry, environmental science, microbiology, and food systems; we are collaborating with Hudson Valley Farms (Stone Barns Center, SkyHigh Farm, Hearty Roots) to evaluate the impact of agricultural practices on soil health, microbial diversity, metabolite content, nutrient availability, and overall food quality

1. (2025)     *Jain SS, *McLaughlin EC, Perron GG, Uppuladinne M, Kim S, Gindinova K, Lundgren SH, Elmelech, Y.  “Inhibition of the xpt Guanine Riboswitch by a Synthetic Nucleoside Analog” PLoS One, 20(5):e0322308.
2. (2025)     *Perron GG, Miller LC, Lau P, Davila-Santiago L, Jain SS.  The apple and cider microbial terroir is shaped by varietals and producers in the Hudson Valley of New York. Fermentation 2025, 11(7), 369; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation11070369
3. (2024)     Lau, P, Jain, SS, *Perron, GG.  “Water chlorination increases the relative abundance of an antibiotic resistance marker in developing sourdough starters” Microbiol. Spectr. 12(11):e011212
4. (2023)     *Jain, SS, D. Ratnikov, F. Omi, H. Rubaiye, A. Fallah, S. Saccomanno “Cisplatin Destabilizes RNA:DNA Hybrid Structures and Inhibits RNA Function in a CRISPR Model System” ChemistrySelect, 8 (47), e202303928.
5. (2019)     Mendoza, RA, Jain, S.S., *Perron, GG. “Draft Genome Sequences of Bacillus sp. strains RM1(2019), RM2(2019), RM9(2019), RM11(2019), and RM15(2019) Isolated from Temperate Soils in the Hudson River Valley of New York” Microbiology Resource Announcements, 8 (50), 1-3.
6. (2018)     *Jain, S. S., Anderson, C. M., Sapse, I.A., Lundgren, S.H., Freer, A.K, Hoang, H., Jain, K., Breshears, M. “A ruthenium platinum metal complex that binds to Sarcin Ricin Loop RNA and lowers mRNA expression” Chemical Communications, 54, 8987-8990.
7. (2016)     Sunderland, JR, Tao, X, Buttrick, EE, Keilich, LC, Villa, CE, Miecznikowski, JR, *Jain, SS "Investigation of liver alcohol dehydrogenase catalysis using an NADH biomimetic and comparison with a synthetic zinc model complex” Polyhedron, 114, 145-151.
8.  (2015)    *Jain, SS, Sonavane, U., Uppuladinne, M., McLaughlin, EC, Weiqing, W., Black, S., Joshi, RR. “Structural Insights into the Interactions of xpt Riboswitch with Novel Guanine Analogues: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study” J. Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, 33(2), 234-243. 
9. (2015)     *Anderson, CM, Jain, SS, Silber, L., Chen, K, Guha, S, Zhang, W, McLaughlin, E., Hu, Y., Tanski, J. “Synthesis and Characterization of Water-Soluble, Heteronuclear Ruthenium(III)/Ferrocene Complexes and Their Interactions with Biomolecules”. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 145, 41-50.
10. (2014)     Ingle, S, Azad, R, Jain, SS, *Tullius, TD. “Chemical probing of RNA with the hydroxyl radical at single atom resolution” Nucleic Acids Research, 42(20) 12758-12767. 
11. (2013)     *Jain, SS., *Anderson, CM, DiRienzo, F., Taylor, I., Jain, K., Guha, S., Hoque, N. “RNA Binding and Inhibition of Primer Extension by a Ru(III)/Pt(II) Metal Complex” Chemical Communications 49, 5031 – 5033.
12. (2013)     *Jain, S. S., LaFratta, C. N., Medina, A, Pelse, I. “Proflavine-DNA Binding using a Handheld Fluorimeter” J. Chem. Ed. 90, 1215-1217.
13. (2013)     *Miecznikowski, J.R., Lynn, M.A., Jasinski, J., Jain, S.S., Buttrick, E.E., Drosdoski, A.E., Archer, K.A., Panarra, J.T. “Synthesis, Characterization, Density Functional Theory Calculations, and Activity of Tridentate NNN Zinc Pincer Complexes” Inorganica Chimica Acta 394, 310-321.
14. (2013)     *LaFratta, C.N., Jain, S. S., Pelse, I, Simoska, O, Elvy, K. Using a Homemade Flame Photometer to Measure Sodium Concentration in a Sports Drink” J. Chem. Ed. 90, 3, 372 – 375.
15. (2012)     *Miecznikowski, JR, Lo, W, Lynn, MA, Jain, SS, Keilich, LC, Kloczko, NF, O’Loughlin, BE, DiMarzio, A, Foley, KM, Lisi, GP, Kwiecien, DJ, Abbasee, R. “Synthesis, Characterization, Density Functional Theory Calculations, Biochemical Assays and Activity of Tridentate SNS Zinc Pincer Complexes Based on Bis-Imidazole or Bis-Triazole Precursors” Inorganica Chimica Acta. 387, 25-3

• William Chang 2027
• Ela Bessimi 2028
• Angel Brito-Arias 2028
• Sahil Hussaini 2027

• National Institute of Health, 2025 - 2028, $ 427,026
• Research Corporation, 2012 - 2015, $ 45,000
• Dreyfus Foundation, 2013 - 20214, $ 18,500