Chandrasekar Lab

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Primary Research Focus

The Chandrasekar Lab focuses on understanding the role of actin cytoskeleton and associated molecular motor proteins in cellular transport pathways and transport related kidney disease.

We use a multifaceted approach involving animal models and cell biological and biochemical methods including advanced microscopy techniques. In addition, we develop novel tools to address outstanding scientific questions in the field of cytoskeletal research.

Primary Research Group

Enabling Technologies

Secondary Research Groups

(605) 312-6071

(605) 312-6412

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About the Chandrasekar Lab

About Indra Chandrasekar, Associate Scientist

Dr. Indra Chandrasekar earned her master’s degree from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India. Her passion for cell biology took her to cytoskeletal research pioneer Dr. Brigitte M. Jockusch’s Lab in Germany, where she received training in basic cell biology concepts and techniques. After receiving her PhD (Dr.rer.nat) from Technical University of Braunschweig in Germany, she moved to the United States. She performed a short postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of renowned actin biologist Dr. John Cooper at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. She later joined the lab of Dr. Paul Bridgman, an expert cellular neurobiologist and EM specialist at Washington University. 

Academic Affiliations and Training

Academic Affiliations:

  • Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Dakota State University
  • Sanford Imaging core co-director (2015-present)

Professional Memberships:

  •  American Society for Cell Biology
  • American Society of Nephrology
  • American Physiological Society
  • American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Highlighted Publications

Otterpohl KL, Busselman BW, Ratnayake I, Hart RG, Hart KR, Evans CM, Phillips CL, Beach JR, Ahrenkiel P, Molitoris BA, Surendran K, Chandrasekar I. Conditional Myh9 and Myh10 inactivation in adult mouse renal epithelium results in progressive kidney disease. JCI Insight. 2020 Nov 5;5(21). doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.138530. PubMed PMID: 33001861; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7710296.

Otterpohl KL, Hart RG, Evans C, Surendran K, Chandrasekar I. Nonmuscle myosin 2 proteins encoded by Myh9, Myh10, and Myh14 are uniquely distributed in the tubular segments of murine kidney. Physiol Rep. 2017 Dec;5(23). doi: 10.14814/phy2.13513. PubMed PMID: 29208685; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5727274.

Chandrasekar I, Goeckeler ZM, Turney SG, Wang P, Wysolmerski RB, Adelstein RS, Bridgman PC. Nonmuscle myosin II is a critical regulator of clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Traffic. 2014 Apr;15(4):418-32. doi: 10.1111/tra.12152. Epub 2014 Feb 12. PubMed PMID: 24443954; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3975594

Read All Publications

Lab Projects and News

Role of Nonmuscle Myosin II in Membrane Trafficking and Organ Function

We hypothesize that in specialized epithelial cell types that populate organs like kidney, actin-NMII play a critical role during various steps of their unique transport machinery. Targeted postnatal inactivation of NMII isoforms in mouse renal epithelial cells result in progressive kidney disease confirming the critical role for actin-NMII in these cells. We utilize these kidney specific conditional genetic knockout mouse models, specialized renal epithelial cells as model system to interrogate the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the complex transport machinery.

Generation of Novel Biosensor to Measure Intracellular Tension

We have successfully generated a FRET based biosensor of NMII that enables us to measure force generated along the actin filaments in live cells. We collaborate with Dr. Jing Liu, an expert biophysicist at Indiana University for this work. In addition to the biological questions, we are addressing using this biosensor; this novel tool can be of use to scientists from various fields like bioengineering, material science, etc.

Meet the Chandrasekar Lab Team

Karla Otterpohl, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow

Karla is involved in developing and characterizing the various genetic knockout mouse models we use in the lab. She also performs advanced imaging techniques like TIRFM and live cell confocal imaging to interrogate the role of NMII isoforms in cellular transport pathways. Karla is an expert mouse geneticist with extensive training in genetic mouse models and molecular biology techniques. In the Chandrasekar Lab she has worked on expanding her skill set to advanced microscopy techniques and cytoskeletal research. She earned a PhD from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2015.

Brook W. Busselman

Graduate Student

Brook joined the Chandrasekar lab in May 2019. His responsibility is to explore the molecular link between three human kidney disease-related genes: uromodulin (UMOD), Sodium potassium chloride cotransporter (NKCC2) and Nonmuscle Myosin IIA (MYH9). He works with conditional genetic knockout mouse models, novel mouse thick ascending limb cells generated in the lab to address the questions. Brook completed his undergraduate studies in medical biology at University of South Dakota. He has several years of work experience in pre-hospital emergency medicine and has gained other lab experience. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in biology and was accepted into the University of South Dakota’s Basic Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program.

Jenna Zimmerman

Research Specialist

Jenna joined the Chandrasekar lab in June 2021. She is using biochemical techniques to investigate the role of NMII isoforms in the kidney. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2021.