Rajappa S. Kenchappa, PhD

Associate Professor
Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute            

Email:  rkenchappa@brni.org

Phone :( +1) 304-293-9568

Fax     :( +1) 304-293-7536           

Education and Experience

1998-2004: PhD (Biochemistry and Neurobiology), National Brain Research Centre and National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, India. Mentor: Dr. Vijayalakshmi Ravindranath.

2004-2006: Post Doctoral Fellow, 2006-2010: Research Faculty (Biochemistry and Neurobiology), Vanderbilt University Medical School, USA. Mentor: Dr. Bruce D Carter. 

 Research Interests and goals

Dr.Kenchappa’s research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying Neurodegenerative diseases and Brain tumours, with the long-term objectives of finding effective therapeutic targets and therapeutics. A key area under investigation includes development of therapeutic strategies against Alzheimer’s disease and glioblastoma.

Areas of Expertise

Biochemistry, Neurobiology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Neurodegenerative diseases, Neuronal apoptosis, Neuronal Tumors, Stem cells, Neurotrophins, Neurotrophin receptors, Neuroprotection, Synaptogenesis.
 

Publications

Kenchappa RS and Carter BD. Neurotrophin Receptor Signalling. Encyclopedia of Biological Chemistry, 2^nd Edition, W.J. Lennarz and M.D.Lane, (Eds). Elsevier Science, 2010 (In press).

Astuti D,  Ricketts C, Chowdury R, McDonough MA, Gentle D,  Kirby G, Schlisio S, Kenchappa RS, Carter BD, Kaelin WG, Ratcliffe PJ,  Schofield CJ, Latif F, Maher ER: Mutation Analysis of HIF-prolylhydroxylases (PHD/EGLN) in Individuals with Features of Phaeochromocytoma and Renal Cell Carcinoma Susceptibility. Endocrine Related Cancer 2010 (In Press).

Kenchappa RS*, Tep C, Korade Z, Urra MS, Bronfman FC, Yoon SO and Carter BD: P75NTR mediated apoptosis in sympathetic neurons involves a biphasic activation of JNK and up regulation of TACE/ADAM17. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2010: 285 (26) 20358-20368. (* Corresponding author).

Vilar M, Charalampopoulos I, Kenchappa RS, Reversi A, Applequist J, Karaca E, Simi A, Spuch C, Choi, S, Friedman WJ, Ericson J, Schiavo G, Carter BD and Ibanez CF. Ligand-independent signalling by genetically cross linked dimers of the p75 neurotrophin receptor. Journal of Cell Science 2009:122(Pt18) 3351-3357.

Vilar M^#,  Charalampopoulos I^#, Kenchappa RS^#, Simi A^#, Karaca E, Reversi A, Choi, S, Bothwell M, Mingarro I, Friedman WJ, Schiavo G, Bastiaens P, Verveer P, Carter BD and Ibanez CF. Activation of the p75 neurotrophin receptor through conformational rearrangement of disulfide-linked receptor dimers. Neuron 2009: 62 (1) 72-83. (# denotes equal first authorship)

Korade Z, Kenchappa RS, Mirnics K and Carter BD: NRIF is a regulator of neuronal cholesterol biosynthesis genes.  Journal of Molecular Neuroscience 2009: 38(2)152-158.

Volosin M, Trotter C, Cragnolini A, Kenchappa RS, Hempstead BL, Carter B, and Friedman W. Induction of proneurotrophins and activation of p75 mediated apoptosis via Neurotrophin Receptor Interacting factor (NRIF) in hippocampal neurons after seizures. Journal of Neuroscience 2008: 28 (39) 9870-9879.

Bertrand M, Kenchappa RS, Andrieu D, Smekens ML, Nguyen HT, Carter BD, Muscatelli F, Barker PA, and Backer OD: NRAGE, a p75NTR adaptor protein, is required for developmental apoptosis in vivo. Cell Death and Differentiation 2008:15 (12) 1921-1929.

Schlisio S, Kenchappa RS, Vredevelt LC, George RE, Stewart R, Greulich H, Shahriari K, Nyugen NV,  Pigny P, Dahia PL, Pomeroy SL,  Maris JM, Look AT, Meyerson M, Peeper DS, Carter BD and Kaelin WG: The Kinesin KIF1Bbeta Acts Downstream of EglN3 to Induce Apoptosis and is a Potential 1p36 Tumor Suppressor. Genes & Development 2008: 22 (7) 884-893. 

Diwakar L, Kenchappa RS, Annepu J and Ravindranath V: Down regulation of glutaredoxin but not glutathione loss leads to mitochondrial dysfunction in female mice CNS: Implications in excitotoxicity. Neurochemistry International 2007:51 (1) 37-46.

Diwakar L, Kenchappa RS, Annepu J, Saeed U, Sujanitha R and Ravindranath V: Down regulation of glutaredoxin by estrogen receptor antagonist renders female mice susceptible to excitatory amino acid mediated complex I inhibition in CNS. Brain Research 2006:1125 (1) 176-184.

Kenchappa RS, Zampieri N, Chao MV, Barker PA, Teng HK, Hempstead BL and Carter BD: Ligand dependent cleavage of p75 neurotrophin receptor is necessary for NRIF nuclear translocation and apoptosis in sympathetic neurons. Neuron 2006: 50 (2) 219-232.

Geetha T^#, Kenchappa RS^# (co-first author), Wooten MW and Carter BD: TRAF6 mediated polyubiquitination regulates nuclear translocation of NRIF, the p75 neurotrophin receptor interactor. EMBO Journal  2005:24 (22) 3859-3868. . (# denotes equal first authorship).

Kenchappa RS^#, Diwakar L^#, Annepu J and Ravindranath V: Estrogen and neuroprotection: Higher constitutive expression of glutaredoxin in female mice offers protection against MPTP mediated neurodegeneration. FASEB Journal 2004:18(10) 1102-1104. (# equal first authorship).

Kenchappa RS and Ravindranath V: g-Glutamyl cystine synthetase is up regulated during recovery of brain mitochondrial complex I following neurotoxic insult in mice. Neuroscience Letters 2003: 350 (1) 51-55.

Kenchappa RS and Ravindranath V: Glutaredoxin is essential for maintenance of mitochondrial complex-I: Studies with MPTP. FASEB Journal 2003: 17(6) 717-719.

Kenchappa RS, Diwakar L, Boyd MR, and Ravindranath V:  Thiol transferase (glutaredoxin) mediates recovery of motor neurons from excitotoxic mitochondrial injury. Journal of Neuroscience 2002: 22(19), 8402-8410.

Balijepalli S, Kenchappa RS, Boyd MR and Ravindranath V:  Protein thiol oxidation by haloperidol results in inhibition of mitochondrial complex-I in brain regions; Comparison with atypical antipsychotics.  Neurochemistry International 2001: 38(5) 425-435.

AWARDS

2010-Special discovery grant award from 
            American Brain Tumour Association.