Sreenivas Kanugula
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Academic title Assistant Professor of Cellular and Molecular Physiology
College College of Medicine
Campuses Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Department Cellular and Molecular Physiology
Graduate programs
Email Phone FAX
  sxk35@psu.edu
  717 531 4024
  717 531 5157
Educational background
  Ph.D., University of Hyderabad, 1995;
Postdoctoral Training, Penn State College of Medicine, 1994-1997
Research interests
 

DNA repair by O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT)

AGT protein removes alkyl adducts from O6 -position of guanine and O4-position of thymine in DNA and protects living organisms from mutagenic and carcinogenic (DNA alkylating) agents. Despite the protective role of the AGT protein in maintaining the integrity of DNA in a cell, the presence of AGT protein is responsible for resistance of tumor cells to alkylating chemotherapeutic agents. The current research aims at studying the biochemical and functional properties of AGT proteins from different species. This study would help us in designing inhibitors for human AGT protein, as inactivation of this DNA repair function enhances the efficacy of the alkylating agents used in cancer chemotherapy.

Areas of expertise
 
DNA-Binding ProteinsMethylnitronitrosoguanidine
OligodeoxyribonucleotidesProtein Conformation
O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA MethyltransferaseMutagenesis
DNA RepairMethyltransferases
Antineoplastic Agents, AlkylatingGuanine
ZincArchaeoglobus fulgidus
BacteriaDNA Adducts
Ethylene DibromideMutagens
CarcinogensNitrosamines
DNA, CatalyticGene Silencing
Ornithine DecarboxylaseArchaeal Proteins
Deoxyribonuclease (Pyrimidine Dimer)Thermoplasmales
Protein Structure, Tertiary
Publication author name
  Kanugula S
Select publications
  Kanugula S. Goodtzova K. Edara S. Pegg AE. Alteration of arginine-128 to alanine abolishes the ability of human O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase to repair methylated DNA but has no effect on its reaction with O6-benzylguanine. 1995 May 30. Biochemistry. 34(21):7113-9.
National Cancer Institute
Kanugula S. Goodtzova K. Pegg AE. Probing of conformational changes in human O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyl transferase protein in its alkylated and DNA-bound states by limited proteolysis. 1998 Feb 1. Biochem J. 329 ( Pt 3):545-50.
National Cancer Institute
Kanugula S. Pegg AE. Novel DNA repair alkyltransferase from Caenorhabditis elegans. 2001. Environ Mol Mutagen. 38(2-3):235-43.
National Cancer Institute
Luu KX. Kanugula S. Pegg AE. Pauly GT. Moschel RC. Repair of oligodeoxyribonucleotides by O(6)-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase. 2002 Jul 9. Biochemistry. 41(27):8689-97.
National Cancer Institute
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