Dr. Bhavani Shankar Sahu
Scientist - IV / Associate Professor
Contact Information
Current Focus Areas - Cellbiology, neurodegeneration, Vesicular Trafficking, Drug development, Brain disease, Metabolic disorders.
Dense core vesicle (DCV) Bio genesis: We are interested in understanding the key events in DCV bio genesis and the proteins associated with regulated secretory pathway, a phenomenon of controlled secretion in neuronal/neuro-endocrine cells. We employ Rat PC12 and INS-1 neuroendocrine cells as model systems to study the basic aspects of secretory granules/DCV bio genesis and trafficking. The main goal is to discover novel proteins regulating DCV formation, maturation and secretion. To address this we use gene manipulation (gene knock down & CRISPR/Cas9), sub cellular fractionation, proteomics, electron and confocal microcopy as tools. Besides we are also interested in functional characterisation of DCV proteins by using mice and cell culture models.
Research
For the layman: Living beings are comprised of fundamental units called as 'cells' which are compartmentalised into organelles with each organelle having a distinct function. We plan to study one such organelle called as " Dense core vesicles" named after their appearance of having a dense core when visualized under an electron microscope. The idea is to study how they are made, move around in the cell and how they are spewed out under certain conditions. Besides, we are also interested in how faulty components of dense core vesicles will lead to various disease conditions such as diabetes, obesity, mental health disorders associated with brain and other non-communicable diseases where function of these vesicles is compromised. These groups of diseases cause an enormous amount of socioeconomic burden and are one of the predominant causes of mortality both nationally/internationally, hence research what we do is of immense public benefit.
-
Mukherjee C, Chauksey P, Mukherjee M, Sadhukhan S, Dagar S, Klumperman J, Sahu BS* “Chromogranin B plays an essential role in post-endoplasmic reticulum sorting of dense-core vesicle cargo” J Cell Sci (2026)
-
Shaikh J, Nagarajan A, Mitra T, Modak AS, Biswas K, Meher G, Bhausaheb AJ, Kannan NA, Sahu BS, Ghatak S, Choubey S*, Saleem M*. “Membrane interfacial potential governs surface condensation and fibrillation of α-Synuclein in neurons.” Nat Commun. (2026)
-
Chandramouli Mukherjee, Palki Chauksey, Aamna Jain, Sahu BS*. “Chromogranin B: A versatile neuroendocrine protein regulating physiological and metabolic functions.” Neuropeptides (2025)
-
Priyanka Mallick, Sebabrata Maity, Rupsha Mondal, Trina Roy, Puyam Milan Meitei, Shashank Saxena, Sahu BS, Oishee Chakrabarti, & Saikat Chakrabarti. “The impact of ERUPR on mitochondrial integrity mediated by PDK4.” Cell Death Dis 16 (2025)
-
Simha PK, Mukherjee C, Kumar Gupta V, Bhatia K, Nagar P, Za AN, Godbole A, Sahu BS*, Upadhyay SK. “Sida cordifolia is efficacious in models of Huntington's disease by reducing ER stress.” Front Mol Biosci. (2025)
-
Krittika, B., Mohima, M., Sahu BS. “P2Y Receptor Endocytosis and Signalling. In: Mani, I. (eds) Neuroreceptor Endocytosis and Signalling in Health and Disease.” Springer Nature (2025)
-
Nisha, Deepti Thapliyal, Bhavya Gohil, Aninda Sundar Modak, N. Tarundas Singh, Chandramouli Mukherjee, Sanchi Ahuja, Sahu BS, Mayanglambam Dhruba Singh. “Downregulation of Pten Improves Huntington’s Disease Phenotype by Reducing Htt Aggregates and Cell Death.” Mol Neurobiol 62 (2025)
-
Mukherjee M, Mukherjee C, Ghosh V, Jain A, Sadhukhan S, Dagar S, Sahu BS “Endoplasmic reticulum stress impedes regulated secretion by governing key exocytotic and granulogenic molecular switches” Journal of Cell Science (2024)
-
Garima Singh, Yuvaraju Venkataramaraju, Geetanjali Meher, Sahu BS, Mohammed Saleem, Yusuf Akhter “Distinct membrane perturbation effects of Catestatin and its CST-364 S variant: Insights from molecular simulations and anisotropy measurements” Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Biomembranes (2024)
-
Mohima Mukherjee, Chandramouli Mukherjee, Vinayak Ghosh, Aamna Jain, Souren Sadhukhan, Sushma Dagar, Sahu BS* “Endoplasmic reticulum stress impedes regulated secretion by governing key exocytotic and granulogenic molecular switches.” J Cell Sci (2024)
-
Bhavani Shankar Sahu. “Cell scientist to watch” J Cell Sci (2024)
-
Garima Singh, Yuvaraju Venkataramaraju, Geetanjali Meher, Sahu BS*, Mohammed Saleem, Yusuf Akhter “Distinct membrane perturbation effects of Catestatin and its CST-364 S variant: Insights from molecular simulations and anisotropy measurements, Biochimica et al.” Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Biomembranes (2024)
-
Sahu BS, Maria Razzoli, Seth McGonigle, Jean Pierre Pallais, Megin E. Nguyen, Masato Sadahiro, Cheng Jiang, Wei-Jye Lin, Kevin A. Kelley, Pedro Rodriguez, Rachel Mansk, Cheryl Cero, Giada Caviola, PaolaPalanza, Loredana Rao, Megan Beetch, Emilyn Alejandro, Yuk Y. Sham, Andrea Frontini, Stephen R. Salton, Alessandro Bartolomucci “Targeted and selective knockout of the TLQP-21 neuropeptide unmasks its unique role in energy homeostasis” Molecular Metabolism (2023)
-
Sahu BS, Maria Razzoli, Seth McGonigle, Jean Pierre Pallais, Megin E. Nguyen, Masato Sadahiro, Cheng Jiang, Wei-Jye Lin, Kevin A. Kelley, Pedro Rodriguez, Rachel Mansk, Cheryl Cero, Giada Caviola, Paola Palanza, Loredana Rao, Megan Beetch, Emilyn Alejandro, Yuk Y. Sham, Andrea Frontini, Stephen R. Salton, Alessandro Bartolomucci. “Targeted and selective knockout of the TLQP-21 neuropeptide unmasks its unique role in energy homeostasis” Molecular Metabolism (2023)
-
Allu PKR, Kiranmayi M, Mukherjee SD, Chirasani VR, Garg R, Vishnuprabu D, Ravi S, Subramanian L, Sahu BS, Iyer DR, Maghajoti S, Sharma S, Ravi MS, Khullar M, Munirajan AK, Gayen JR, Senapati S, Mullasari AS, Mohan V, Radha V, Naga Prasad SV, Mahapatra NR. “Functional Gly297Ser variant of the physiological dysglycemic peptide pancreastatin is a novel risk factor for cardiometabolic disorders.” Diabetes. (2022)
-
Sahu BS, Nguyen ME, Rodriguez P, Pallais JP, Ghosh V, Razzoli M, Sham YY, Salton SR, Bartolomucci A. “The molecular identity of the TLQP-21 peptide receptor” Cell Mol Life Sci. (2021)
-
Sahu BS, Rodriguez P, Nguyen ME, Han R, Cero C, Razzoli M, Piaggi P, Laskowski LJ, Pavlicev M, Muglia L, Mahata SK, O`Grady S, McCorvy JD, Baier L, Sham YY, Bartolomucci “Peptide/receptor co-evolution explains the lipolytic function of the neuropeptide TLQP-21” Cell Reports (2019)
-
Sahu BS *Ŧ, Sumana Mahata, Keya Bandyopadhyay, EnnioAvolio, Chinmayi Sahu, Gautam K. Bandyopadhyay, Alessandro Bartolomucci, Nicholas J.G. Webster, Angelo Corti, Lee Eiden, Sushil K. Mahata* “Catestatin regulates vesicular quanta by interacting with cholinergic and peptidergic stimulations in PC12 cells” Cell and Tissue Research (2019)
-
Sahu BS, Rodriguez P, Nguyen ME, Han R, Cero C, Razzoli M, Piaggi P, Laskowski LJ, Pavlicev M, Muglia L, Mahata SK, O`Grady S, McCorvy JD, Baier L, Sham YY, Bartolomucci A “Peptide/receptor co-evolution explains the lipolytic function of the neuropeptide TLQP-21.” Cell Reports (2019)
-
Sahu BS *Ŧ, Sumana Mahata*, Keya Bandyopadhyay, EnnioAvolio, Chinmayi Sahu, Gautam K. Bandyopadhyay, Alessandro Bartolomucci, Nicholas J.G. Webster, Angelo Corti, Lee Eiden, Sushil K. MahataŦ. “Catestatin regulates vesicular quanta by interacting with cholinergic and peptidergic stimulations in PC12 cells” Cell Tissue Res. (2019)
-
Guo, Z., Sahu, B.S., He, R., Finan, B., Cero, C., Verardi, R., Razzoli, M., Veglia, G., Di Marchi, R.D., Miles, J.M. and Bartolomucci, A. “Clearance kinetics of the VGF-derived neuropeptide TLQP-21.” Neuropeptides. (2018)
-
Subramanian, L., Khan, A.A., Allu, P.K., Kiranmayi, M., Sahu, B.S., Sharma, S., Khullar, M., Mullasari, A.S. and Mahapatra, N.R. “A haplotype variant of the human chromogranin A gene (CHGA) promoter increases CHGA expression and the risk for cardiometabolic disorders.” Journal of Biological Chemistry (2017)
-
Cero, C., Razzoli, M., Han, R., Sahu, B.S., Patricelli, J., Guo, Z., Zaidman, N.A., Miles, J.M., O'Grady, S.M. and Bartolomucci, A. “The neuropeptide TLQP-21 opposes obesity via C3aR1-mediated enhancement of adrenergic-induced lipolysis.” Molecular metabolism (2017)
-
Sahu, B.S., Manna, P.T., Edgar, J.R., Antrobus, R., Mahata, S.K., Bartolomucci, A., Borner, G.H. and Robinson, M.S. “Role of clathrin in dense core vesicle biogenesis.” Molecular Biology of the Cell (2017)
-
Kiranmayi, M., Chirasani, V.R., Allu, P.K., Subramanian, L., Martelli, E.E., Sahu, B.S., Vishnuprabu, D., Kumaragurubaran, R., Sharma, S., Bodhini, D. And Dixit, M. “Catestatin Gly364Ser variant alters systemic blood pressure and the risk for hypertension in human populations via endothelial nitric oxide pathway.” Hypertension (2016)
-
Sonawane, P.J., Gupta, V., Sasi, B.K., Kalyani, A., Natarajan, B., Khan, A.A., Sahu, B.S. and Mahapatra, N.R. “Transcriptional regulation of the novel monoamine oxidase renalase: Crucial roles of transcription factors Sp1, STAT3, and ZBP89.” Biochemistry (2014)
-
Sasi BK, Sonawane PJ, Gupta V, Sahu BS, Mahapatra NR. “Coordinated transcriptional regulation of Hspa1a gene by multiple transcription factors: crucial roles for HSF-1, NF-Y, NF-κB and CREB.” J Mol Biol (2014)
-
Sahu, B.S., Obbineni, J.M., Sahu, G., Allu, P.K., Subramanian, L., Sonawane, P.J., Singh, P.K., Sasi, B.K., Senapati, S., Maji, S.K. and Bera, A.K. “Functional genetic variants of the catecholamine-release-inhibitory peptide catestatin in an Indian population: allele-specific effects on metabolic traits.” Journal of Biological Chemistry (2013)
-
Sahu, B.S., Mohan, J., Sahu, G., Singh, P.K., Sonawane, P.J., Sasi, B.K., Allu, P.K., Maji, S.K., Bera, A.K., Senapati, S. and Mahapatra, N.R. “Molecular mechanism of interactions of the physiological anti-hypertensive peptide catestatin with the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.” Journal of Cell Science (2012)
-
Sonawane, P.J., Sahu, B.S., Sasi, B.K., Geedi, P., Lenka, G. and Mahapatra, N.R. “Functional promoter polymorphisms govern differential expression of HMG-CoA reductase gene in mouse models of essential hypertension.” PLoS One (2011)
-
Sahu, B.S., Sonawane, P.J. and Mahapatra, N.R. “Chromogranin A: a novel susceptibility gene for essential hypertension.” Cellular and molecular life sciences (2010)
-
Khaliq, A., Sonawane, P.J., Sasi, B.K., Sahu, B.S., Pradeep, T., Das, S.K. and Mahapatra, N.R. “Enhancement in the efficiency of polymerase chain reaction by TiO2 nanoparticles: crucial role of enhanced thermal conductivity.” Nanotechnology (2010)
Sushma Daggar
Others
Research Associate
BSc: Biology Government college, Gurgaon. MSc: Biotechnology, MDU Rohtak. PhD: Heinrich, Heine University, Dusseldorf (2020) Post doc: Heinrich, Heine University, Dusseldorf (2020-2021) Hobbies: Playing Badminton.
- Sahu Joins MS University Baroda on 1st of October at the Dr. Vikram Sarabhai Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology.
- 29-9-2018, Our manuscript on regulation of vesicular quanta gets accepted in cell and tissue research.
- 26-11-2018, we got a grant notification from International Brain Research Organisation, IBRO !!!
- 28-2-2018 Sahu gets selected for the prestigious Research Group Leadership course being organised by EMBO/Welcometrust/DBT with full funding.
- 5-3-2019 Dileep our collaborator from ILS, BBSR visits us !!
- 18-3-2019 Sahu attends a EMBO Research Leadership Course
- 28-4-2019 Sahu attends Ramalingaswami fellows conclave
- 3-9-2019 Sahu's paper gets published in cell reports!
- 1-10-2019 Sahu lab moves to National Brain Research Center, Manesar as Ramalingswami fellow
- 18-10-2019 Sahu presents in Molecular motors trafficking and transport meeting !
- 4-11-2019 Sahu represents NBRC at IISF Kolkata.
- September 2020 Vinayak Ghosh Joins the lab as Project assistant.
- Novmeber 2020 Sahu becomes a regular full time independent PI
- Chandramouli Joins the lab as first Graduate student.
- Aamna Jain joins the lab as a Masters student.
- December 2020: BSS lab gets a grant notification from ICGEB.
- Jan 2021: Sushma Dagar joins as a post doc in the lab.
- Feb 2021: Souren Sadhukhan joins as a project assistant in the lab.
- June 2021: Aamna defends her thesis and secures multiple positions for pursuing her PhD.
- August 2021: Mohima Mukherjee joins as a Masters student in the lab.
- October 2021: New publication in CMLS!!
- May 2022: Arjun from NIT joins as summer intern ! Welcome
- July 2022: Mohima defends her thesis and presents a stellar performance. Congrats! She decided to stay with us to continue her PhD.
- July: 2022 Shivam,Aninda/krittika and Shashank join the lab as Masters and PhD students respectively! Welcome!
- June 2023: Ankita joins the lab
- June 2023: Lab goes to lab trip to Nainital yay!! look at the gallery for more details
- July 2023: Aninda and Shivam finish their Masters. Shivam continues for PhD with us. Nikita and Simran also finish their master's dissertation at amrita university whom our lab has hosted for their dissertation. Nikita comes back to join as a research intern.
- August 2023: Summer students Arjun (NIT W),Thasya(ashoka), and Shilna(IISER-K) finish their summer time and go back to their institutes.
- September 2023: Bhavani gets a Young Scientist award conferred by society for Neurochemistry, India
- October 2023: Souren gets a PhD position in Denmark ! congrats and all the best
- October 2023: labs research paper is out in BBA- Biomembranes !!
- October 2023: BSS lab organizes organellar biology and membrane trafficking meeting !
- October 2023: Mohima wins the best poster award in the organellar biology and membrane trafficking meeting!
- December 2023: Palki and Tamanna join the lab for their PhDs. Welcome to both and all the best
People interested to join us, Please look at the NBRC PhD program! Project assistant interested, do write to me!!
International:
Professor Sushil Mahata, University of California, Sandiego.
Professor Scott 'O' Grady, University of Minnesota, Twin cities.
Dr. Alessandro Bartolomucci, University of Minnesota, Twin cities.
National:
Prof Dr. Anirban Basu, NBRC.
Dr. Yusuf Akther, Central University, Lucknow.
Dr. Dileep Vasudevan, ILS, BBSR.
Saleem Mohammad, NISER, BBSR.
