NISER

PhD, 2006, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India

MS Biological Sciences, 2000, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India

B.Sc Microbiology, 1997 Saurashtra College, Madurai, India

Singapore Millennium Fellowship (SMF): 2007- 2009

Selected Publications:

1. Srinivasan R.* and Balasubrmanian, M. K.* (2014). Bacteria Spring a Surprise. Elife. Jun24;3:e03435. Doi: 10.7554/elife.03435. *Corresponding authors
2. Mishra, M.*, Kashiwazaki, J.*, Takagi, T, Srinivasan, R., Huang, Y, Balasubramanian, M. K. and Mabuchi, I. (2013). In vitro contraction of cytokinetic ring depends on myosin II but not on actin dynamics. Nat. Cell Biol. 15: 853-859. (*equal authors)
3. Balasubramanian, M. K, Srinivasan, R., Huang, Y. and Ng, K-H. (2012). Comparing Contractile Apparatus Driven Cytokinesis Mechanisms across Kingdoms. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken). 69:942-956. (Review Article in Rappaport Special Issue)
4. Mishra, M.*, Huang, Y.*, Srivastava, P.*, Srinivasan, R.,* Sevugan, M., Shlomovitz, R., Gov, N., Rao, M., and Balasubramanian, M. K. (2012). Cylindrical Cellular Geometry Ensures Fidelity of Division Site Placement in Fission Yeast. . J. Cell Sci. 125:3850-3857. (*Equal authorship)
5. Srinivasan, R., and Mishra, M. (2009) Cell Polarization: It's all about Being in Shape. Curr. Biol. 19:R205-206.
6. Srinivasan, R.*, Mishra, M.*, Wu, L., Yin, Z., and Balasubramanian, M. K. (2008) The Bacterial Cell Division Protein FtsZ Assembles into Cytoplasmic Rings in Fission Yeast. Genes & Dev. 22:1741-1746. (*Equal authorship)
7. Srinivasan, R., Mishra, M., Murata-Hori, M., and Balasubramanian, M. K. (2007) Filament formation of the Escherichia coli actin-related protein, MreB, in fission yeast. Curr. Biol. 17: 266-272.

For a full publication list:

List of publications

 What I cannot create, I do not understand

                                                      - Richard Feynman

So is true for Life. For nearly a century, it was believed that Humans and its close relatives such as yeast and other eukaryotes were the sole owners of the Cytoskeleton, a mechanical framework that supports cells and carries almost all essential process within. However, recent discoveries have proved this to be a myth and shown us that the cytoskeleton was an innovation of our distant ancestors - 'Bacteria'. The bacterial cytoskeleton provides the most simplistic framework to understand the mechanical basis of all cellular process such as spatial organization and compartmentalization, cell shape establishment, cell movement, DNA segregation and cell division that are vital to the propogation of life. One of the most fascinating aspects of the cytoskeleton is their remarkable ability to self-organize and assemble into a great diversity of dynamic structures.

Broadly, our research interests lie in evolution of self-organisation, form and function in biological systems and in understanding the means by which bacterial pathogens have exploited this organization in pathogenesis for their survival and reproduction. In our research laboratory, we aim to understand how tiny cells such as bacteria achieve cellular organization and how the mechanical properties of their cytoskeleton allow them to perform the cellular functions.

We pursue these research interests through studying the following process in life:

• Cell division and Spatial organization in Bacteria - Bacterial cytoskeleton dynamics, Cytokinetic ring assembly, Regulation of cell division control and anti-bacterials targeting bacterial cytoskeleton.
• Bacterial Metabolism & Biofilms - Molecular pathways by which Bacterial proteases regulate lipid metabolism & biofilm formation.
• Bacterial Pathogenesis - Molecular Mechanisms of Bacterial effectors that target and affect Eukaryotic Cytoskeleton and Cell Cycle.
• Synthetic Biology - Synthetic Protein Polymers: Evolution of synthetic cytomotive proteins for use in biological & artificial cell systems.

Given the rapid increase in the rate of multi-drug resistance, there is a resurgence of the once conquered infectious diseases. There is an urgent need for a new class of antibiotics and bacterial cell division has proved to be an attractive target. Thus we are currently actively focused on regulation of cell division and spatial organization in bacteria. We also have an ongoing effort on creating "synthetic cytomotive proteins" for use in artificial cells.

Academic Year 2015:

B101 - Biology I : The Science of Life

Academic Year 2014:

B102 - Biology II : Cellular & Gentic Basis of Life