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Kasturi Mitra

Associate Professor of Biology, Ashoka University,
DBT-WellcomeTrust Senior Fellow,
Adjunct Faculty, Genetics department, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Ph.D. CCMB, Hyderabad

Kasturi Mitra joined Ashoka as a DBT- WellcomeTrust Senior Fellow. She ran a federally funded research program as an independent faculty at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA. There, she also directed an undergraduate program fostering student learning from hands-on experience towards forging customized learning paths. Her educational training is from Presidency College (Calcutta) for BSc, Calcutta University for MSc, CCMB (Hyderabad) for PhD and NIH (Bethesda, USA) for postdoc. Her long standing research interest is in the cellular organelles called mitochondria that are classically known as ‘the powerhouse of the cell’. Originally, mitochondria were bacteria (prokaryotes) that got integrated into the eukaryotic cells during the course of evolution, and took control of various homeostatic functions of the eukaryotic cell. Her research has been pioneering in identifying various novel aspects of mitochondrial biology in various cell types including stem cells. Her lab takes a combinatorial approach involving quantitative cell biology, biochemical and genetic tools in probing the role of mitochondria in health and in diseases like cancer. Other than research articles she has also published several invited review articles in her areas of expertise. Her research has been featured in podcasts and newsletters.

She serves as reviewer for various leading scientific journals and international funding agencies, and has served as a lead guest editor on a mitochondria-related special topic.

She encourages out of the box thinking and learning through work and play. When she is not a scientist or a teacher, she is a busy mom and a musician.

  • Mayank Saini, Swati Agarwala, Biratal Wagle, Brian Spurlock, Bharti Golchha, Danitra Parker, Kasturi Mitra. Quantitative analyses of single mitochondrial components reveal an early role of small-mitochondrial-networks in priming neoplasticity. bioRxiv 2024.12.26.630414; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.12.26.630414
  • Agarwala S, Dhabal S, Mitra K. Significance of quantitative analyses of the impact of heterogeneity in mitochondrial content and shape on cell differentiation. Open Biol. 2024 Jan;14(1):230279. doi: 10.1098/rsob.230279. Epub 2024 Jan 17. Review. PubMed PMID: 38228170; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10791538.
  • Kane MS, Benavides GA, Osuma E, Johnson MS, Collins HE, He Y, Westbrook D, Litovsky SH, Mitra K, Chatham JC, Darley-Usmar V, Young ME, Zhang J. The interplay between sex, time of day, fasting status, and their impact on cardiac mitochondrial structure, function, and dynamics. Sci Rep. 2023 Dec 7;13(1):21638. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-49018-z. PubMed PMID: 38062139; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10703790.
  • Agarwala S, Saini M, Parker D and Mitra K*#. Enrichment of carcinogen-driven “mitochondria-primed” human skin stem cells and their identification using single-cell analyses. STAR Protocols; 4 (3), 102545; 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102545
  • Zhao Q, Yan S, Lu J, Parker DJ, Wu H,  Sun Q, Crossman DK, Liu S, Wang Q, Sesaki H, Mitra K, Liu K, Jiao K. Mitochondrial Fission Regulates Transcription of Ribosomal Protein Genes in Embryonic HeartsJ Cell Sci. 2022 Feb 15;135(4). doi: 10.1242/jcs.258956. Epub 2022 Feb 21. PubMed PMID: 35099001; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8919333.
  • Spurlock B, Parker D, Basu MK, Hjelmeland A, Sajina G, Liu S, Siegal GP, Gunter A, Moran A, Mitra K*Fine-tuned repression of Drp1 driven mitochondrial fission primes a ‘stem/progenitor-like state’ to accelerate neoplastic transformation.  eLife, Sept 2021. eLife2021;10:e68394 DOI: 10.7554/eLife.68394PMID: 34545812; PMCID: PMC8497058.
  • Vu T, Datta A, Banister C, Jin L, Yuan G, Samuel T, Bae S, Eltoum I-E , Manne U, Zhang B,  Mitra K, Buckhaults P, Dutta P*. STRAP is a Critical Mediator of APC Mutation-Induced Intestinal Tumorigenesis through a Feed-Forward Mechanism. Gastroenterology, 2021 Sept. Gastroenterology. 2021 Sep 11;S0016-5085(21)03489-2. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2021.09.010 PMID: 34520730.
  • Spurlock, B*., Hanumanthu, V. S. and Mitra, K*. (2021). Strategy of Isolating ‘Primed’ Tumor Initiating Cells Based on Mitochondrial Transmembrane Potential. Bio-protocol 11(5): e3945. DOI: 10.21769/BioProtoc.3945PMID: 33796619; PMCID: PMC8005873.
  • Spurlock B and Mitra K*# Mito-SinCe2 approach to study heterogeneity in mitochondrial structure-function relationship. Methods in Molecular Biology, Springer Protocols. Mitochondrial Medicine, 2nd edition, V. Weissig, M. Edeas, Editors. Humana Press, Springer New York Heidelberg Dordrecht London, 2020, in print. PubMed PMID: 34118054.
  • Spurlock B, Tullet J, Hartman JL 4th, Mitra K*Interplay of mitochondrial fission-fusion with cell cycle regulation: Possible impacts on stem cell and organismal aging. Exp Gerontol. 2020 Jul 1;135:110919. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2020.110919. Epub 2020 Mar 24. Review. PubMed PMID: 32220593.
  • Spurlock B, Gupta P, Basu MK, Mukherjee A, Hjelmeland AB, Darley-Usmar V, Parker D, Foxall ME, Mitra K*New quantitative approach reveals heterogeneity in mitochondrial structure-function relations in tumor initiating cells. J Cell Sci. 2019 Mar 25. doi: 10.1242/jcs.230755. PMID: 30910831. (Fast tracked with encouraging review from Cell Reports).

            Featured in First Author Interview in J Cell Sci and in researchoutreach.org.

  • Redmann M, Benavides GA, Wani WY, Berryhill TF, Ouyang X, Johnson MS, Ravi S, Mitra K, Barnes S, Darley-Usmar VM, Zhang J. Methods for assessing mitochondrial quality control mechanisms and cellular consequences in cell culture. Redox Biol. 2018 Apr 10;17:59-69. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2018.04.005. PMID: 29677567. PMCID: PMC6006680.
  • Tomer D, Chippalkatti R, Mitra K, Rikhy R. ERK regulates mitochondrial membrane potential in fission deficient Drosophila follicle cells during differentiation. Dev Biol. 2018 Feb 1;434(1):48-62. doi: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.11.009. PMID: 29157562.
  • Dodson M, Wani W, Redmann M, Benavides G, Johnson M, Ouyang X, Cofield S, Mitra K, Darley-Usmar V, and Zhang J. Regulation of autophagy, mitochondrial dynamics and cellular bioenergetics by 4-hydroxynonenal in primary neurons. Autophagy. 2017;13(11):1828-1840. doi: 10.1080/15548627.2017.1356948. PMID: 28837411.
  • Parker D.J., Moran A and Mitra K*#  Studying mitochondrial structure and function in Drosophila ovaries. J Vis Exp. 2017 Jan 4;(119). doi: 10.3791/54989, 2016. PMID:28117804
  • Tanwar DK, Parker DJ, Gupta P, Spurlock B, Alvarez RD, Basu MK*, Mitra K*. Crosstalk between the mitochondrial fission protein, Drp1, and the cell cycle is identified across various cancer types and can impact survival of epithelial ovarian cancer patients. Oncotarget. 2016 Aug 4. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.11047. PMID: 27509055
  • Parker D, Iyer A, Shah S, Moran A, Hjelmeland A, Basu M.K., Liu R, Mitra K *. A novel mitochondrial pool of Cyclin E, regulated by Drp1, is linked to cell density dependent cell proliferation. J Cell Sci. 2015. Nov 15; 128(22):4171-82. doi: 10.1242/jcs.172429. PMID:26446260, PMCID:PMC4712782.
  • Bernard K, Logsdon N.J., Ravi S., Xie N., Persons B.P., Rangarajan S, Zimjewski J.S., Mitra K, Liu G,  Darley-Usmar V.M., and Thannickal V.J. Metabolic Reprogramming is required for Myofibroblast Contractility and Differentiation. J Biol Chem. 2015 Oct 16;290(42):25427-38. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M115.646984. PMID: 26318453. PMCID:PMC4646190.
  • Mitra K*#. Mitochondrial fission-fusion at the crossroads of proliferation and differentiation. Bioessays. 2013 Nov;35(11):955-64. doi: 10.1002/bies.201300011. PMID:23943303.
  • Mitchell T, Johnson MS, Ouyang X, Chacko BK, Mitra K, Lei X, Gai Y, Moore DR, Barnes S,  Zhang J, Koizumi A, Ramanadham S and Darley-Usmar VM. Dysfunctional mitochondrial bioenergetics and oxidative stress in Akita+/Ins2-derived β-cells. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2013 Sep 1;305(5):E585-99. Doi 10.1152/ajpendo.00093.2013. PMID:23820623. PMCID:PMC3761167.
  • Fu., D., Mitra K., Sengupta P., Lippincott-Schwartz J., Arias IM. Coordinated elevation of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and autophagy help drive hepatocyte polarization. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Apr 30;110(18):7288-93. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1304285110. PMID:23589864. PMCID: PMC3645550.
  • Rappole C. A., Mitra K., Wen H., Dynamic fluorescence imaging of the free radical products of X-ray absorption in live cells. Optical Nanoscopy, 2012, 1: 5.
  • Mitra K., Rikhy R., Lilly L., Lippincott-Schwartz J. DRP1 driven mitochondrial fission initiates follicle cell differentiation during Drosophila oogenesis. J Cell Biol. 2012 May 14;197(4):487-97. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201110058. PMID:22584906. PMCID: PMC3352947. News and views. Short B. J. Cell Bio, 2012, May14; 197(4): 460. 27 Nov 2012.
  • Hailey DW, Rambold AS, Satpute-Krishnan P, Mitra K, Sougrat R, Kim PK, Lippincott-Schwartz J. Mitochondria supply membranes for autophagosome biogenesis during starvation. Cell. 2010 May 14;141(4):656-67. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2010.04.009. PMID: 20478256. PMCID:PMC3059894. News and views. Wrighton KH. Autophagy: From one membrane to another. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2010 Jul;11(7):464. News and views. McEwan DG, Dikic I. Cell. 2010 May 14;141(4):564-6.
  • Mitra K, Lippincott-Schwartz J. Analysis of mitochondrial dynamics and functions using imaging approaches. Curr Protoc Cell Biol. 2010 Mar;Chapter 4:Unit 4.25.1-21. doi: 10.1002/0471143030.cb0425s46. PMID: 20235105. PMCID: PMC3007120
  • Mitra K. Mitochondria, in The Liver: Biology and Pathobiology, 2009, Fifth Edition (ed I. M. Arias), John    Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, UK. doi: 10.1002/9780470747919.ch9
  • Mitra K., Wunder Christian., Roysam B., Lin G., Lippincott-Schwartz J. A hyperfused mitochondrial state achieved at G1-S regulates cyclin E buildup and entry into S phase. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Jul 21;106(29):11960-5. doi:10.1073/pnas.0904875106. PMID:19617534. PMCID: PMC2710990. Highlighted on cover. News and Views. Finkel T. and Hwang PM. 2009 Jul 21;106(29):11825-6.
  • Shivaji S., Kumar V., Mitra K., Jha KN. Mammalian sperm capacitation: role of phosphotyrosine proteins. Soc Reprod Fertil Suppl. 2007;63:295-312. PMID:17566280.
  • Mitra K. and Shivaji S. Proteins implicated in sperm capacitation. Indian J Exp Biol. 2005 Nov;43(11):1001-15. PMID:16313063
  • Mitra K., Rangaraj N. and Shivaji S. Novelty of the pyruvate metabolic enzyme dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase in spermatozoa: correlation of its localization, tyrosine phosphorylation, and activity during sperm capacitation. J Biol Chem. 2005 Jul 8;280(27):25743-53. PMID:15888450
  • Mitra K and Shivaji S. Novel tyrosine-phosphorylated post-pyruvate metabolic enzyme, dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase, involved in capacitation of hamster spermatozoa. Biol Reprod. 2004 Apr;70(4):887-99. PMID:14645106

 

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