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Dr. Karthigeyan Dhanasekaran

Assistant Professor
Centrosome and Cilia biology lab
E-mail: karthigeyan at rcb dot res dot in

  • PhD (Molecular Biology and Genetics) 2013, JNCASR, Bangalore.
  • MVSc (Molecular Biology and Biotechnology), G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, 2007.
  • Post-doctoral Research at the Yale School of Medicine, USA, 2015.
  • Assistant Professor at the RCB, since 2020.

Centrosomes were discovered towards the end of nineteenth century as a membrane less self-replicating, microtubule based organelle, and later established as the major organiser (MTOC) in animal cell. However, its role is not fully understood beyond spindle assembly and cell division.

Often centriole associated structures like centrosome, centriolar satellite and ciliary basal bodies are interconvertible membraneless structures that are dynamic in nature. These transitions are regulated by means of common pathways operating at various spatio-temporal windows within the cellular life span to play their mitotic and extra-mitotic roles. We are now realising much more robust functioning of these structures in regulating events beyond cell division like subcellular trafficking, intracellular signalling, polarity establishment, development and differentiation. On the contrary these structures are totally dispensable in certain terminally differentiated states and other unique and interesting instances. Again the process of centrosomal inactivation is poorly defined and still remains an open end for research.

With the advent of proteomic tools, we have started gaining better insights off late in terms of the composition and functioning of centrosomes for some but not all cellular cues. Similarly, super-resolution techniques have aided in revealing more interesting features of centrosomes and cilia in the physiological and pathological states. Nevertheless, a vast set of cellular instances remain unexplored till date.

Our research interests lie in understanding the perturbation of centriole based organelles across varying disease state that contributes to the pathobiological manifestations and how best to intervene them in order to restore the physiological states. We majorly try understanding the centrosome and ciliary structures using imaging based approaches and the signalling aspects of these organelles by means of basic biochemical and molecular cell biology approaches combining the tools of modern proteomics, electron microscopy and super-resolution imaging.

Laboratory of Centrosome and Cilia is broadly interested in studying,

  • Centriolar organelle in establishing and manifesting the infectious pathology at the cellular and organismal level.
  • Signalosomes operating across centrosome and basal bodies in infection and ageing.
  • Phase separation of centrosomal proteins.
  • Contribution of centriolar satellites in the dynamics of centriolar functioning.
  • Centriolar events during DNA damage response.
  • Centrosomes as a drug intervention node to combat the associated disease pathology.
  • Opportunities: Inquiries from prospective students, trainees and postdocs with an interest in Centrosome biology are welcome. Please write to karthigeyan at rcb dot res dot in, explaining your interests. We would be happy to sponsor deserving candidates for Post-Doctoral fellowships such as NPDF, DBT-RA, WOS, INSPIRE Faculty and IA-Early Career Fellowship as long as they are relevant to the lab theme.

    • Dr Wilson Memorial medal, Madras Veterinary College, TANUVAS, 2005.
    • All India 5th rank in JRF for M.V.Sc Biochemistry and Biotechnology, ICAR, 2005.
    • All India 3rd rank in JRF for M.V.Sc Biotechnology by Department of Biotechnology (JNU-DBT), from 2005 to 2007.
    • Awarded Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Government of India (2007-2005).
    • Topper in Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) from Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, 2007.
    • Awarded Senior Research Fellowship (SRF), by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India in 2009 and 2013.
    • JSPS travel grant, 11th Asian Conference on transcription held at Okinawa, Japan, 2010.
    • JB Prize for 2013 instituted by The Japanese Biochemical Society for the publication Vasudevarao M D, and Karthigeyan D, et al; J.Biochem 2012; 152(5):453.
    • ACS chemical Biology-Best Poster Award during the International Symposium on Challenges in Chemical Biology, held at IICB, Kolkata, 2013.
    • DST travel grant for 11th EMBL Conference held at Heidelberg, Germany, 2013.
    • JB poster prize for best poster presented in the 5th Asian Chromatin Meeting, JNCASR, Bangalore, 2015.
    • Recipient of Ramalingaswami re-entry fellowship, DBT-2021.
    • Awarded the Start-up Research Grant, SERB – 2022.
    • Joint IITD-RCB collaborative research grant, RCB – 2023.
    • Awarded the Core Research Grant, SERB (Co-PI) – 2024.

    We are looking for diligent and motivated scholars keen to explore cell biology to join the group. Feel free to contact for the possibilities of joining the lab for dissertation training if interested in centrosome biology. We would be happy to host deserving candidates for Post-Doctoral fellowships such as NPDF, DBT-RA, WOS, INSPIRE Faculty and IA-Early Career Fellowship as long as they are relevant to the lab theme.




    Present and Past Lab Members
    • Himanshi
      Senior Research fellow (Pursuing PhD)
      himanshi@rcb.res.in
    • Exploring centrosome targeting mechanism of RNA viral proteins and studying the centriolar perturbations in the infected host cell using molecular and cellular approaches. Apart from research I like to draw mandala art in my free time.

    • Manish Yadav
      Junior Research Fellow (Pursuing PhD)
      manish.yadav@rcb.res.in
    • Investigating the mechanism underlying centriolar and cytoskeletal dynamics during RNA viral infection. In my Free time I enjoy playing cricket and the Joy of the Open Road! A New Car Experience.

    • Tulasiram Mora
      Project Assistant
      tulasiram.mora@rcb.res.in
    • Designing tools to explore centrosomes and beyond using gene editing and stable cell line generation. Apart from science, I like to watch movies.

    • Pranay Dudhe
      Technical Support for Bio-Imaging
      dudhepranay3@gmail.com
    • Contributing to the cutting-edge field of Super-resolution imaging, facilitating breakthroughs in understanding cellular structures and dynamics, by employing innovative methodologies and image processing. I have a deep passion for photography, cooking, and swimming, and indulging in the world of movies is another source of joy for me.

    • Sanjay Kumar Singh
      Lab Assistant since 2021

      I enjoy playing Volley ball and Cricket after work.




      Alumni
    • Neha Sharma
      Project Assistant
      neha.sharma23@rcb.res.in
    • Understanding the contributions of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in centrosome targeted proteins during ageing and infection. I like expressing myself through writing.

    • Zidhan Subair
      Project Assistant
      zidhan.subair@rcb.res.in
    • Understanding the CHIKV host cell biology by means of molecular virology, cellular imaging and subcellular visualisation. Outside the lab I enjoy a good book or movie and relish tasting new food.

    • Aparna Upadrasta
      Project JRF
      aparna.upadrasta@rcb.res.in
    • Molecular signatures defining centrosome localization and retention using molecular and proteomic approaches. I like to spend my free time solving Sudoku, keeping up with world geopolitics and learning Carnatic music if I'm not in the lab.

    • Gurleen Kaur
      Junior Research Fellow (Nov 2021- Sept 2022)
      gurleen.kaur@rcb.res.in
    • Minisha Bagaria
      MSc Dissertation Trainee (Feb-June 2021)
      minisha.bagaria24@gmail.com
    • Bani Preet Kaur
      BSc Summer Trainee (Dec-2021)
      b.preet@iitg.ac.in
    • Bharat Gurnani
      MSc Dissertation Trainee (Jan-June 2022)
      bgurnani92@gmail.com
    • Shankar S
      MSc Dissertation Trainee (Jan-June 2023)
    • Neha Kain
      MSc Dissertation Trainee (July-Dec 2023)
    1. Ashish Kumar D, Pranay D, Shubhangi M, Sanmitra B, Dibyajyoti G, Dhanasekaran K*, Soumik S* (2024). Imaging of intracellular protein aggregates through plasmon-assisted clusteroluminescence. Nanoscale 16 (24), 11749-11761.
    2. Shukla S, Murmu S, Mora T, Dhanasekaran K*, Roy RP* (2024) Unravelling HDAC Selectivity for Erasing Acetyl Mark on Lys-5 of Histone H2B. ChemBioChem, e202300875.
    3. *Borah S, *Dhanasekaran K, *Balot S (2022) The LEM-ESCRT toolkit: Repair and maintenance of the nucleus. Frontiers Cell & Developmental Biology (10), 989217. (Review Article)
    4. Karthigeyan Dhanasekeran, Nidhi Vishnoi, Madeleine Chalfant, Ivan Surovstev, Mustafa K. Khokha and C. Patrick Lusk. (2020) Differential turnover of Nup188 controls its levels at centrosomes and role in centriole duplication. J Cell Biol 219 (3), e201906031
    5. D Karthigeyan, A Bose, R Boopathi, VJ Rao, H Shima, N Bharathy, K Igarashi, R Taneja, A K Trivedi, Tapas K Kundu (2020) Aurora kinase A-mediated phosphorylation of mPOU at a specific site drives skeletal muscle differentiation. The Journal of Biochemistry 167 (2), 195-201
    6. K Dhanasekaran, A Bose, VJ Rao, R Boopathi, SR Shankar, VK Rao, A Swaminathan, M Vasudevan, R Taneja and Tapas K Kundu (2019) Unraveling the role of Aurora A beyond centrosomes and spindle assembly: implications in muscle differentiation. The FASEB Journal 33 (1), 219-230
    7. K Dhanasekaran, S Kumari, R Boopathi, H Shima, A Swaminathan, M Bachu, U Ranga, K Igarashi and Tapas K Kundu (2016) Multifunctional human transcriptional coactivator protein PC4 is a substrate of Aurora kinases and activates the Aurora enzymes. The FEBS Journal 283 (6), 968-985
    8. D Karthigeyan, S Surabhi, P Mizar, S Soumik, A Banerjee, SH Sinha, D Dasgupta, C Narayana and Tapas K Kundu (2016) A Dual Non‐ATP Analogue Inhibitor of Aurora Kinases A and B, Derived from Resorcinol with a Mixed Mode of Inhibition. Chemical Biology & Drug Design 87 (6), 958-967
    9. D Karthigeyan, S Siddhanta, AH Kishore, SSRR Perumal, H Ågren, S Sudevan, A V Bhat, K Balasubramanyam, K S Rangappa, Tapas K Kundu and C Narayana (2014) SERS and MD simulation studies of a kinase inhibitor demonstrate the emergence of a potential drug discovery tool. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 111 (29), 10416-10421
    10. J Shandilya, P Senapati, K Dhanasekaran, SS Bangalore, M Kumar, A H Kishore, A Bhat, G S Kodaganur and Tapas K Kundu (2014) Phosphorylation of multifunctional nucleolar protein nucleophosmin (NPM1) by aurora kinase B is critical for mitotic progression. FEBS letters 588 (14), 2198-2205
    11. S Siddhanta, D Karthigeyan, PP Kundu, TK Kundu, C Narayana (2013) Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy of Aurora kinases: direct, ultrasensitive detection of autophosphorylation. RSC advances 3 (13), 4221-4230
    12. K Dhanasekaran, S Kumari, C Kanduri (2013) Noncoding RNAs in chromatin organization and transcription regulation: an epigenetic view. Epigenetics: Development and Disease, Subcell Biochem 61, 343-372
    13. K Dhanasekaran, M Arif, TK Kundu (2013) Cancer: An epigenetic landscape. Epigenetics: Development and disease, Subcell Biochem 61, 399-417
    14. M Arif, D Karthigeyan, S Siddhanta, GVP Kumar, C Narayana, TK Kundu (2013) Analysis of Protein Acetyltransferase Structure–Function Relation by Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS): A Tool to Screen and Characterize Small Molecule Modulators. Methods Mol Biol 981, 239-261
    15. M Dalvoy Vasudevarao, K Dhanasekaran, RB Selvi, TK Kundu (2012) Inhibition of acetyltransferase alters different histone modifications: probed by small molecule inhibitor plumbagin. The journal of biochemistry 152 (5), 453-462
    16. D Karthigeyan, SBB Prasad, J Shandilya, S Agrawal, TK Kundu (2011) Biology of Aurora A kinase: Implications in cancer manifestation and therapy. Medicinal research reviews 31 (5), 757-793

    Dr. Karthigeyan Dhanasekaran M.V.Sc, Ph.D.
    Centrosome and Cilia biology lab
    Regional Centre for Biotechnology
    NCR Biotech Science Cluster
    3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway
    P.O. Box No. 3, Faridabad - 121 001
    Haryana (NCR Delhi), India
    e-mail: karthigeyan at rcb dot res dot in
    Phone: 91 0129-2848739

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