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SREEKUMAR RAMACHANDRAN

Post-doc Research Associate

Stowers-Institute for Medical Research

Rong Li Lab

Kansas City, Missouri

skr@stowers-institute.org

poosree@yahoo.com

My Project on...

DBF2: a protein serine/threonine kinase which regulates mitotic  exit in budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Deletion of DBF2 is viable because of the existence of the homologue DBF20. Exit from mitosis is triggered by inactivation of Cdk28 (Cdk1-human) through the release of Cdc14 phosphatase. Dbf2 and Mob1 promote the release of Cdc14 from its inhibitor.  Dbf2 and Mob1 localize to the SPBs in anaphase and then moves to the bud neck.  The function of Dbf2-Mob1 in cytokinesis is unclear.  How does Mob1 promote activation of DBF2? What are the physiological substrates of DBF2-Mob1? So studies on Dbf2 will provide a deep knowledge into cell cycle processes in budding yeast and in higher eukaryotes.

DBF2 related protein in other species & Functions

Research Background

     I began my career researching free-radical activities in diabetic retinopathy and cataracts. Then I worked on Microsatellite instability in glial tumours.  I moved to the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel to work with Sima Lev.  From there, I started working on cytokinesis and protein trafficking in the mammalian system.  Using Nir2 protein (a PITP protein, homologous to drossophila retinal degeneration B protein (rdgB).  I found that studying protein trafficking and cytokinesis is much easier in yeast cells compared with the mammalian cell lines.  Finally, I moved to the Rong Li Lab which moved from the Cell Biology department at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

Publications

1. Litvak, V., Dahan, N., Ramachandran, S, Amarilio, R., Sabanay, H., and Lev, S. Maintenance of the diacylglycerol level in the Golgi apparatus by the Nir2 protein is critical for Golgi secretory function. Nature Cell Biology. (2005), 7:225-234

 

2. Amarilio, R., Ramachandran, S., Sabanay, H., and Lev, S. Differential regulation of ER structure through VAP-Nir protein interaction. J. Biol. Chem. (2005), 280(7),5934-44

 

3. Litvak, V., Argov, R., Dahan, N., Ramachandran, S., Amarilio, R., Shainskaya. A, and Lev, S. Mitotic phosphorylation of the peripheral Golgi protein Nir2 by Cdk1 provides a docking mechanism for Plk1 and affects cytokinesis completion. Molecular Cell. (2004),14, 319-330.

 

4. Sreekumar R, CV Anthryose., K V Iyer, B Vimala, S Shashidhar. Lipid Peroxidation and diabetic retinopathy.  Indian Journal of Medical Sciences (2001), 55(3), 133-138.

 

5.  Harikumaran Nair R, Kesavachandran C, Sanil R, Sreekumar R and Shashidhar  S. Prediction equation for lung functions in South Indian children. Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology (1997) 41(4), 390-96.

 

Link to My Culture

Pooram Festival

Snake Boat Race

Mohiniaattam Dance

Kathakali Dance Drama

Baharatnatyam Dance

Onam Festival

Kalaripayattu Martial Arts

Yoga

Ayurveda

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