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Dr. Sankar Natesan 
Professor 
Department of Genetic Engineering 

 

Educational Qualification M.Sc., Ph.D

Professional Experience

 

  • 25 Years :

     

  • 1990-1992 Junior Research Fellow, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India.

  • 1992-1995 Junior Research Fellow, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India.

  • 1997-2000 Senior Research Fellow, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India.

  • 2000-2001 Project Fellow, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India.

  • 2001-2004 Postdoctoral Fellow, National Cancer Center, Singapore.

  • 2004-2009 Research Associate, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.

  • 2009-2010 Senior Assistant Professor, SASTRA University, Thanjavur, India.

  • 2010-2011 Project Consultant, India

  • 2011-2014 Research Scientist, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL.

  • 2014-2014 Research Scientist, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX.

  • 2014-Present Professor, Department of Genetic Engineering, School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India.

Field of Specialization

Molecular Cardiology/Molecular Biology

Research Interest.

Heart Failure is a common cardiovascular disease with high morbidity and mortality and the prevalence is alarmingly increasing in India even in younger individuals. Although, current clinical interventions had reduced morbidity and mortality, yet, the cardiovascular disease is one of the major causes of death. Cardiac remodeling is a slow progressive decline in heart function that leads to cardiac hypertrophy followed by heart failure. During this process an array of signaling pathways are activated including Ca2+ signaling regulated by assorted proteins that form Ca2+ pumps, channels and exchangers. Defects or alterations of these molecules affects excitation-contraction coupling (ECC) and excitation-transcription coupling (ETC) that contribute in contraction-relaxation of the heart and gene expression respectively. Cardiac hypertrophy and heart-failure can be clinically identified by analyzing various biochemical parameters and echocardiographic imaging. However, before clinical manifestations, the heart, at the cellular level accumulate changes in a slow pace. Identification of these changes and intervention would be important to develop novel therapeutics against pathophysiology of the heart.

 

My laboratory is interested in studying the role of Inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptors (InsP3Rs), a family of Ca2+ channels during cardiac remodeling process. The InsP3R2 is the predominant isoform expressed in the heart among the three types of InsP3R Ca2+ channels (InsP3R1, R2 and R3). The InsP3R2 is predominantly localized to the nuclear membrane and to a lesser extent in SR membrane of cardiomyocytes. The nuclear membrane enriched InsP3R2 Ca2+ channel regulates bi-directional Ca2+ release towards cytoplasm and nucleoplasm. Thus InsP3R2 regulate a diverse Ca2+ dependent signaling in both the compartments and contribute in the pathophysiology of the heart.

 

In animal models using physiological, biochemical, molecular biology applications we are trying to address the Ca2+ signaling pathways that are regulated by the InsP3R2 mediated Ca2+ release and its contribution in the development of cardiac hypertrophy followed by heart-failure. At present we are focusing on the regulation of Ca2+-calmodulin kinase IIdelta (CaMKIId) signaling pathways by InsP3R2 and its contribution in cardiac remodeling. We also working on intervention of InsP3R2 Ca2+ channel activity by "competitive inhibition" and "blocking inhibition" using peptides and antibodies respectively as a novel therapeutic agents to inhibit cardiac remodeling process.

Research ProjectsCompleted  Ongoing
-   -

Research Supervision

  • Ph.D

  • M.Phil

 

Awarded Ongoing 
- -
- -  

Awards

 

  • 1990 Junior Research Fellowship, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria.

  • 1992 Junior Research Fellowship, Department of Energy, India.

  • 1997 Senior Research Fellowship, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, India.

  • 2000 Senior Research Fellowship, Indian Council for Medical Research, India

  • 2008 Katten Muchin Rosenman Travel Scholarship Program Award from The Robert H Lurie Comprehensive cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.

 

Papers PublishedInternational - 10

Books PublishedAuthored   Edited
-   -

Papers Presented

  • 09

Academic Responsibilities

  • Teaching M.Sc Biotechnology program

Academic Membership

  • American Heart Association-AHA

  • International Society for Heart Research-ISHR

Contact Info

Professor 
Department of Genetic Engineering 
School of Biotechnology 
Madurai Kamaraj University 
Palkalai Nagar 
Madurai-625 021.


Tel: +91-452-2459441

E - Mail id : sankar.biotech@mkuniversity.org

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