Professor
Lab: GB03
Email: upendra at iisc dot ac dot in
Phone: 91-80-22933258
► https://dbgl.wordpress.com/
Developmental and Biomedical Genetics Lab
The main focus of my group is to understand the molecular and cellular basis of myopathies and neurodegenerative disorders. We use two genetically tractable model organisms, Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) and Danio rerio (zebrafish), to trace the etiology of these diseases and dissect the associated mechanisms. We are also interested in identifying host factors responsible for host-pathogen interactions. We use genetic tools and transgenic approaches to identify novel factors and decipher pathways underlying normal development and those which lead to the manifestation of diseased conditions. Experimental approaches include genetic, molecular, biochemical and biophysical assays, electron and confocal microscopy and behavioural tests.Main research areas of interest are: Muscle; Neurobiology; Immunity, Drug screening and biomechanics.
- Firdaus H., Mohan J., Naz S., Arthi B. P., Ramesh S. R. and Nongthomba U.†, 2015. A cis-regulatory mutation in Troponin-I of Drosophila reveals the importance of proper stoichiometry of structural proteins during muscle assembly. Genetics, 200: 149-165.
- Gautam R., Vanga S., Madan A., Gayathri N., Nongthomba U.† and Umapathy S.†, 2015. Differentiation of nemaline-myopathy and cardio-myopathy phenotypes in Drosophila model using Raman spectroscopy. Analytical Chemistry, 87: 2187-2194.
- Rai M., Katti P. and Nongthomba U.†, 2014. Drosophila erect wing (Ewg) controls mitochondrial fusion during muscle growth and maintenance by regulation of the Opal-like gene. Journal of Cell Science 127: 191-203.
- Rai M. and Nongthomba U.†, 2013. Effect of myonuclear number and mitochondrial fusion on Drosophila indirect flight muscle organization and size. Experimental Cell Research 319:2566-2577.
- Salvi S. S., Kumar R. P., Ramachandra N. B., Sparrow J. C. and Nongthomba U.†, 2012. Mutations in Drosophila myosin rod cause defects in myofibril assembly. Journal of Molecular Biology 419: 22-40.