Publications by authors named "Sushama Mohanta"

TRPV1, a polymodal and nonselective cation channel has unique gating mechanisms which is regulated by supramolecular complexes at the plasma membrane formed with membrane proteins, lipids and kinase pathways. Crosstalk between microtubule cytoskeleton with TRPV1 at various level has been established. Previously we demonstrated that the positively-charged residues present at specific tubulin-binding stretch sequences (i.

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Microtubule-based chemotherapeutics, primarily Taxane-derived agents are still used as the major live-saving agents, yet have several side effects including serious loss of immune cells, bone density etc. which lowers the quality of life. This imposes the need to understand the effects of these agents on Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) in details.

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Article Synopsis
  • TRPV1 is a unique ion channel with distinct structural properties, and the mutant TRPV1-R575D shows reduced interaction with membrane cholesterol, leading to "ligand-insensitivity" and high cellular lethality under control conditions.
  • The lethality from TRPV1-R575D can be mitigated by using a specific inhibitor (5'I-RTX) or by introducing a second mutation (D576R) near R575D.
  • The study reveals that conditions like lowering extracellular Ca or depleting membrane cholesterol can rescue the "ligand-insensitivity" of TRPV1-R575D and highlights the importance of intracellular calcium for channel gating in both the wild type and mutant forms.
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TRPV4 is a polymodal and non-selective cation channel that is activated by multiple physical and chemical stimuli. >50 naturally occurring point-mutation of TRPV4 have been identified in human, most of which induce different diseases commonly termed as channelopathies. While, these mutations are either "gain-of-function" or "loss-of-function" in nature, the exact molecular and cellular mechanisms behind such diverse channelopathies are largely unknown.

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Article Synopsis
  • TRPV1 has evolved specific amino acid patterns at the Lipid-Water-Interface (LWI), maintaining a consistent balance of hydrophobic-hydrophilic and charge residues critical for its function in vertebrates.
  • The Arg575 residue is vital for TRPV1's surface expression and localization; mutations here can disrupt charge balance, leading to increased lethality in cells.
  • Restoring the charge ratio or using specific TRPV1 inhibitors can rescue the negative effects caused by the Arg575Asp mutation, highlighting the mutation's role in keeping TRPV1 in a potentially harmful "constitutive-open-like" state.
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