Grants per year
Personal profile
Research Interests
The broad area of my research interest is in the cytoskeleton and intracellular motility. The cytoskeletal polymer that I am most interested in is the microtubules and the cytoskeletal process that I am most excited about is the accurate segregation of chromosomes during mitosis. A dividing cell assembles mitotic kinetochores and a mitotic spindle at the onset of mitosis. The kinetochores serve as sites where the microtubules of the mitotic spindle comes in physical contact with the chromosomes, and are hence extremely important for accurate chromosome segregation. Improper kinetochore microtubule (kMT) attachments lead to erroneous chromosome segregation, chromosome loss and aneuploidy in turn, which is the leading cause of cancer in tissue cells and of birth defects and miscarriages during human embryonic development. Over a decade of research had identified the kinetochore-bound Ndc80 complex as the key requirement for the direct physical contact with microtubules of the spindle. But what is still not understood well is how the kinetochores and the Ndc80 complex remains stably attached to the highly dynamic microtubule plus-ends during mitotic metaphase and subsequent chromosome segregation in anaphase. Work is yeast model system had provided us with important insights into the possible mechanism governing this process, but we still do not have a clear mechanistic picture in vertebrate systems. Work in my lab focusses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that are involved the controlling and regulating kinetochore microtubule attachments in vertebrate cells. We are also very interested to delineate the intricate mechanism that link this event with the activation and silencing of the spindle assembly checkpoint which is also absolutely critical for accurate chromosome segregation.
Training Experience
2014 | Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of North Carolina |
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons
… → 2008
Research interests
- Biochemistry: Proteins
- Cancer Biology
- Cell Biology
- Cell Division
- Cell Imaging
- Chromosome Segregation
- Cytoskeleton
- Microscopy
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Grants
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Molecular mechanisms controlling kinetochore-microtubule attachments during mitosis
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
12/10/19 → 11/30/24
Project: Research project
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Subproject for Institution # SP0033269 Institutional Research Grant for Dr. Dileep Varma
1/1/16 → 12/31/18
Project: Research project
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Role of the Ndc80 Loop Domain and Cdt1 in Kinetochore Microtubule Attachments
12/22/14 → 11/30/18
Project: Research project
Research Output
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Kinetochore-microtubule coupling mechanisms mediated by the Ska1 complex and Cdt1
Rahi, A., Chakraborty, M., Vosberg, K. & Varma, D., Sep 4 2020, In: Essays in Biochemistry. 64, 2, p. 337-347 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Computational model demonstrates that Ndc80-associated proteins strengthen kinetochore-microtubule attachments in metaphase
Campbell, S., Amin, M. A., Varma, D. & Bidone, T. C., Nov 1 2019, In: Cytoskeleton. 76, 11-12, p. 549-561 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
3 Scopus citations -
Mapping the kinetochore MAP functions required for stabilizing microtubule attachments to chromosomes during metaphase
Amin, M. A., Agarwal, S. & Varma, D., Jun 1 2019, In: Cytoskeleton. 76, 6, p. 398-412 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
1 Scopus citations -
Antagonism between the dynein and Ndc80 complexes at kinetochores controls the stability of kinetochore-microtubule attachments during mitosis
Amin, M. A., McKenney, R. J. & Varma, D., Apr 20 2018, In: Journal of Biological Chemistry. 293, 16, p. 5755-5765 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
5 Scopus citations -
Cdt1 stabilizes kinetochore–microtubule attachments via an Aurora B kinase–dependent mechanism
Agarwal, S., Smith, K. P., Zhou, Y., Suzuki, A., McKenney, R. J. & Varma, D., Oct 1 2018, In: Journal of Cell Biology. 217, 10, p. 3446-3463 18 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access10 Scopus citations