About
Dr. Srikanth is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Physiology in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Srikanth obtained her Ph.D from NCBS, Bangalore under the guidance of Dr. Gaiti Hasan in characterizing the biophysical properties of the Drosophila melanogaster Inositol 1, 4, 5 trisphosphate receptor (InsP3R). During her Ph.D. she spent a year in Dr. Ilya Bezprozvanny's lab at UT Southwestern Medical center performing lipid bilayer experiments to examine the single channel properties of the Drosophila InsP3R. She then joined Dr. Anjana Rao's laboratory, then at Harvard Medical School and performed a genome-wide Drosophila RNAi screen with Dr. Yousang Gwack, which led to the identification of Orai1 as a critical component of the Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ (CRAC) channels in immune cells. She further continued her research on Orai proteins in Yousang's lab at UCLA, first as a postdoctoral scholar and subsequently as an Assistant Research Physiologist.
Research Interests & Expertise: Immune system regulation
Regulation of Orai/STIM-mediated store-operated Ca2+ entry in immune cells: Using proteomics and genomics tools we have identified several mechanisms regulating store-operated Ca2+ entry in immune cells. One such class of novel regulators comprise of large Rab GTPases including CRACR2A (CRAC channel regulator 2A), Rab44 and Rab45 proteins. Unlike canonical Rab GTPases which are ~20 KDa in size, these large Rab GTPases range in size from 75-110 KDa and contain Ca2+-binding EF hands and many protein interaction motifs. We are currently examining the role of these novel large Rab GTPases in proximal T cell receptor signaling pathways.
Role of Orai/STIM-mediated signaling in regulation of innate immune responses: Recently we have identified a novel role of Orai/STIM proteins in regulation of innate immune responses. Using genetic tools of tissue-specific Orai/STIM knockout animals, we are dissecting the function of these molecules in host immune responses and autoimmune disorders.
Honors and Awards
- 2014 Outstanding Tutor Award, PBL Block I
- 2013 Outstanding Tutor Award, PBL Block I
- 2012 Outstanding Tutor Award, PBL Block I
- 2012 Scientist Development grant from the American Heart Association
- 2010 “Boyer-Peter Award” for excellence in postdoctoral research.
- 2010 Nominee for Chancellor’s award for excellence in postdoctoral research
- 2009 Postdoctoral fellowship from the American Heart Association to understand the role of Orai1 in heart function.
- 2002 Travel Fellowship from the “Journal of Cell Science” to conduct a collaborative project in Dr. Ilya Bezprozvanny’s lab at UT Southwestern Medical Centre, Dallas in 2002.
- 2000-2003 “TIFR Alumni Association Scholarship for Career Development” during Graduate studies for four consecutive years 2000-2003.
- 1998 CSIR fellowship for Graduate Studies 1998 M.S. First Rank - Gold Medalist
Department: Physiology