Research

We will be using Drosophila as model system to address how memory is maintained over time. We will also work with Drosophila models of neurodegenerative diseases and fragile-X. We will be using genetics, cell biology, biochemistry, imaging, next generation sequencing and behavior as tools in our work.

January 2014- March 2015
Associate Professor and Scientist-IV
National Brain Research Centre

April 2006 - January2014
Post-Doctoral Research Associate
Stowers Institute of Medical Research
Advisor: Dr. Kausik Si

January 2006- March 2006
Senior Research Fellow
Guha Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Calcutta,
Advisor: Prof. D.J.Chattopadhyay

September 2004- February 2005
Student Visitor
Max Planck Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Gottingen, Germany
Advisor: Dr. Jurgen Klingauf

April 2000-July 2005
Research Scholar
Department of Biological Sciences,Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
Advisor: Prof. K.S.Krishnan

Publications

Critical role of amyloid-like oligomers of Drosophila Orb2 in the persistence of memory. Majumdar A, Cesario WC, White-Grindley E, Jiang H, Ren F, Khan MR, Li L, Choi EM, Kannan K, Guo F, Unruh J, Slaughter B, Si K. Cell. 2012 Feb 3;148(3):515-29. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2012.01.004. Epub 2012 Jan 26.

Aplysia CPEB can form prion-like multimers in sensory neurons that contribute to long-term facilitation. Si K, Choi YB, White-Grindley E, Majumdar A, Kandel ER. Cell. 2010 Feb 5;140(3):421-35. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2010.01.008.

Sustained CPEB-dependent local protein synthesis is required to stabilize synaptic growth for persistence of long-term facilitation in Aplysia. Miniaci MC, Kim JH, Puthanveettil SV, Si K, Zhu H, Kandel ER, Bailey CH. Neuron. 2008 Sep 25;59(6):1024-36. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2008.07.036.

A neuronal isoform of CPEB regulates local protein synthesis and stabilizes synapse-specific long-term facilitation in aplysia. Si K, Giustetto M, Etkin A, Hsu R, Janisiewicz AM, Miniaci MC, Kim JH, Zhu H, Kandel ER. Cell. 2003 Dec 26;115(7):893-904.

A neuronal isoform of the aplysia CPEB has prion-like properties. Si K, Lindquist S, Kandel ER. Cell. 2003 Dec 26;115(7):879-91.