Research/Areas of Interest:
My research is broadly aimed at understanding the role of valosin-containing protein (VCP/p97) in cancer cells. VCP has been found to be over-expressed in various cancers and is correlated with poor prognosis. VCP is an evolutionarily conserved type II AAA-ATPase that unfolds ubiquitinated proteins and diverts them for proteasomal degradation or recycles them for subsequent events. It interacts with more than two dozen adaptor proteins which enable VCP access to diverse substrates and cellular pathways, including, DNA replication, ERAD, selective autophagy, vesicular trafficking and clearing protein aggregates among others. I am currently trying to understand the mechanistic aspects of how VCP and its associated adaptors function in selective autophagy and protein homeostasis using CRISPR knock-outs of VCP adaptors coupled with proteomics, microscopy, and in vitro reconstitution experiments. An understanding of the pathways regulated by VCP and its adaptors in normal cells will enable a deeper appreciation of how these processes are subverted in cancer.
Education
BSc, Biotechnology, Biochemistry & Chemistry, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India
MSc, Biotechnology, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India
PhD, Biochemistry, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India