Back to Main

Faculty Detail     Name KASTURI MITRA Kasturi Mitra   Campus Address KAUL 740B Zip 0024 Phone 205-996-4178 E-mail kasturi@uab.edu Other websites

Education Graduate  CCMB, Hyderbabad, India    2005  PhD

Faculty Appointment(s) Appointment Type Department Division Rank Primary  Genetics   Genetics Research Div Assistant Professor Secondary  Cell, Developmntl, & Integrative Biology  Cell, Developmntl, & Integrative Biology Assistant Professor Center  Comprehensive Cancer Center  Comprehensive Cancer Center Assistant Professor

Research/Clinical Interest Title Exploring the significance of mitochondrial structural changes in health and disease Description Mitochondria are the cellular organelles that became the seat of energy production and intermediary metabolism during the course of evolution of eukaryotic cells. They are also crucial players in redox balance, calcium homeostasis, lipid modification and regulation of cell death in various developmental contexts. In various cells mitochondrial structure has been found to be dynamic. They exist in different inter-convertible forms resulting from fission-fusion events between individual mitochondria, significance of which is far from clear. My long term interest lies in understanding the structure-function relationship of these multifunctional organelles. A set of proteins that govern either fusion or fission of mitochondrial inner and outer membranes have been characterized and it is their activities that decide the steady state mitochondrial morphology in a cell; when fission dominates mitochondria remain as small fragmented elements and when fusion dominates mitochondria remain coalesced into larger hyperfused forms. We use various kinds of biochemical, cell biological, microscopy and genetic tools to understand the significance of mitochondrial dynamism in cell proliferation. Specifically we want to understand if the mitochondrial fission-fusion proteins can regulate cell proliferation in stem cells or deregulate it during tumorigenesis.

Selected Publications  Publication PUBMEDID DRP1-dependent mitochondrial fission initiates follicle cell differentiation during Drosophila oogenesis. Mitra K, Rikhy R, Lilly M, Lippincott-Schwartz J. J Cell Biol. 2012 May 14;197(4):487-97. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201110058.  22584906  Mitochondria supply membranes for autophagosome biogenesis during starvation. Hailey DW, Rambold AS, Satpute-Krishnan P, Mitra K, Sougrat R, Kim PK, Lippincott-Schwartz J. Cell. 2010 May 14;141(4):656-67. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2010.04.009.   20478256  Analysis of mitochondrial dynamics and functions using imaging approaches. Mitra K, Lippincott-Schwartz J. Curr Protoc Cell Biol. 2010 Mar;Chapter 4:Unit 4.25.1-21. doi: 10.1002/0471143030.cb0425s46.  20235105   A hyperfused mitochondrial state achieved at G1-S regulates cyclin E buildup and entry into S phase. Mitra K, Wunder C, Roysam B, Lin G, Lippincott-Schwartz J. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Jul 21;106(29):11960-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0904875106. Epub 2009 Jul 15.  19617534

© 2008 University of Alabama at Birmingham. All rights reserved. DisclaimerAbout this SiteGraphic Design Created by UAB Web Communications.
Calendar Designed by Medical Education Information Services. To report problems with the site, email us at meis@uab.edu. Last Revision: February 15, 2012.
The UAB School of Medicine Mailing Address: 1530 3rd Avenue South, FOT 1203, Birmingham AL 35294-3412