Guest Editors
Shubhra Majumder
Institute of Health Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata, India
Dr. Majumder obtained his PhD in 2008 from Bose Institute, India studying microtubule and actin cytoskeletal dynamics in human parasite Entamoeba histolytica. He joined Dr. Harold Fisk’s research group at the Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio as a post-doctoral researcher, where he studied the molecular regulation of centrosome assembly, and initiated his research in primary ciliogenesis. During 2015-2016, he was involved in identifying novel pathways controlling subcellular localization of tRNAs in budding yeast at Dr. Anita Hopper’s lab at the same university. In 2016, he joined Dr. Monica Venere’s lab at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center as Research Associate scientist, where he characterized ciliogenesis in glioblastoma-derived tumorsphere, and the role of KIF11 in ciliogenesis. He returned to India in mid-2017, and joined Institute of Health Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata as Ramalingaswami fellow. He is currently studying the molecular regulation of centriole assembly and ciliogenesis, and its impact separately on tumorigenesis and development of rare ciliopathies. He has published several research papers and reviews in well-respected journals, including one in JoVE demonstrating a quantitative imaging technique.
Swapnil R. Shinde
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India
Dr. Shinde obtained his PhD in 2018 from the DBT-Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, India. He elucidated the functional role of tumour suppressor phosphatase PTEN in vesicular trafficking of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and Glucose Transporter 1. He joined Dr. Maxence Nachury’s research group at the University of California San Francisco, California, as a post-doctoral researcher, where he studied the molecular pathways of ciliary proteome quality control. He elucidated the ubiquitin-mediated mechanism of removal of activated G-Protein Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) and mislocalised non-ciliary proteins. In 2022, he returned to India and joined the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, as an Assistant Professor. He is studying the molecular pathways of cilia assembly and disassembly and how various receptors, especially GPCRs in cilia, govern cellular signalling pathways.
Collection Overview
Cilia (and flagella) are the oldest-known organelles of eukaryotic cells, assembled on basal bodies that transform from centrioles. Centrioles form the core of centrosomes, which serve as major microtubule-organizing centers. Both centrioles and cilia are tiny but microtubule-based, nine-fold symmetrical, sturdy structures that are evolutionarily conserved.
Centrosomes are critical in maintaining cell polarity and bipolar spindle assembly during mitosis in proliferating cells. Centrosome numbers must be critically regulated in dividing cells, as excess centrioles may lead to aneuploidy, a hallmark of many cancers. Attenuated centriole assembly is associated with microcephaly-related disorders. On the other hand, motile cilia, or flagella, are common in various eukaryotes, helping with motility.
Motile cilia, found alone or in multitudes, regulate directional fluid flow and motility in mammalian cells. Additionally, there are non-motile primary cilia present in most cells, which perform sensory functions or mediate developmental signaling. Ciliary dysfunction is associated with many developmental disorders and adult diseases, collectively known as 'ciliopathies.'
Recent advances in microscopy and proteomics have revealed the composition of centrioles and cilia. Adding to the biological aspect of these organelles in various eukaryotes, the clinical significance of centrioles and cilia in many human diseases has made this field attractive in recent years. The field of research is also active in developing novel strategies to dissect various aspects of centrosome assembly and ciliogenesis. Demonstrating standardized protocols for some of the novel strategies in centrosome and cilia biology is the major goal of this collection.
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