Dr. Vasu Appanna

Professor

 

B.Sc. (Bombay)
M.Sc. (Wales)
Ph.D. (Waterloo)

Office: S-219

Lab: S-213

 

Mailing Address

Dr. V. Appanna
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Laurentian University
Sudbury, ON
P3E 2C6

 

Tel: (705) 675-1151, ext 2101

Fax: (705) 675-4844

 

Internet:

vappanna@laurentian.ca

Click here for personal webpage

Cellular Adaptation and Biotechnology

1. Molecular adaptation.

Our research is aimed at elucidating the mechanisms that enable living systems to adapt to abiotic stress. The metabolic shift triggered by the stress allows a better understanding of the functional proteome that enables these cells to survive. Hence, metabolomic and proteomic studies provide a holistic approach to study molecular adaptation and toxicology.

2. Homeostasis, Metabolism, Toxicology.

We have recently shown a pivotal role for such TCA cycle enzymes as aconitase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, a-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase in the adaptation to Al stress. The characterization and regulation of these enzymes are being delineated. The involvement of the TCA cycle in ROS detoxification and homeostasis of pyruvate and a-ketoglutarate are also being deciphered. Using model systems like HepG2 and kidney embryonic cells, the impact of metal stress on cellular metabolism is being explored in an effort to understand molecular toxicology. TCA cycle, urea cycle ,oxidative phosphorylation and differentiaton in these metal-challenged cells are being investigated.

3. Biotechnology

Microbes are being conditioned to remove metals from industrial and domestic effluents. The use of immobilized cells in bioremediation processes and their adaptability to multiple-metal stress are being explored. We are also tailoring microbes to mine metals from low-grade ores and to produce biofuel from landfill sites. The overproduction of economically important biomolecules is also being exploited.

Selected Publications

J. Lemire, R.Mailloux, C. Auger, D. Whalen, and Vasu D. Appanna (2010)
Pseudomonas fluorescens orchestrates a fine metabolic-balancing act to counter aluminum toxicity.
Mini Review Enviromental Microbiology, 12: 1384 - 1390. [PDF]

J. Lemire, Milandu, Y., Auger, C., Bignucolo, A., Appanna, V., and Vasu Appanna (2010)
Histidine is a source of the anti-oxidant, a-ketoglutarate in Pseudomonas fluorescens challenged by oxidative stress.
FEMS Microbiol., in press. [PDF]

R. Singh, J. Lemire, R.J. Mailloux, D. Chenier, R. Hamel and V.D. Appanna (2009)
An ATP and oxalate generating variant tricarboxylic acid cycle counters aluminum toxicity in Pseudomonas fluorescens.
PLos One 4: e7344. (PDF)

R. Mailloux, R. Singh, G. Brewer, C. Auger, J. Lemire and V.D. Appanna (2009)
a-Ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and glutamate dehydrogenase work in tandem to modulate the anti-oxidant a-ketoglutarate during oxidative stress in Pseudomonas fluorescens.
J. Bacteriol. 191: 3804-3810. (PDF)

R. Mailloux, S. Puiseux-Dao and V.D. Appanna (2009)
α -Ketoglutarate abrogates the nuclear localization of HIF-1 α in aluminum-exposed hepatocytes .
Biochimie, 91: 408-415. (PDF)

J. Lemire, R. Mailloux, S. Puiseux-Dao and V.D. Appanna (2009)
Aluminum-induced Defective Mitochondrial Metabolism Perturbs Cytoskeletal Dynamics in Human Astrocytoma Cells.
Journal of Neuroscience Research, 87: 1474-1483.  (PDF)

J. Lemire, R. Mailloux and V.D. Appanna (2008)
Mitochondrial lactate dehydrogenase is involved in oxidative-energy metabolism in human astrocytoma  cells (CCF-STTGI).
PLoS ONE 3 (2): e1550. pdf 

R. Mailloux, R. Darwich, J. Lemire and V.D. Appanna (2008)
The monitoring of nucleotide diphosphate kinase activity by blue native polyacrylamide electrophoresis.
Electrophoresis 29, 1484-1489. pdf 

J. Lemire, R. Mailloux and V.D. Appanna (2008)
Zinc toxicity alters mitochondrial metabolism and leads to decreased ATP production in hepatocytes.  
J. Applied Toxicology 28, 175-182 pdf

J. Lemire, P. Kumar, R. Mailloux, K. Cossar and V.D. Appanna (2008)
Metabolic adaptation and oxaloacetate homeostasis in Pseudomas fluorescens exposed to aluminum toxicity.
J. Basic Microbiology, 48, 252-259. pdf
Journal Cover

R. Mailloux, J. Lemire and V.D. Appanna (2008)
A novel metabolic network leads to enhanced citrate biogenesis in Pseudomonas exposed to aluminum toxicity.
Extremophiles, 12, 451 - 59. pdf

D. Chénier, R. Bériault, R. Mailloux, M. Baquie, G. Abramia, J. Lemire and V.D. Appanna (2008)
Metabolic adaptation in Pseudomonas fluorescens evoked by aluminum and gallium toxicity: Involvement of fumarase C and NADH oxidase.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology 74, 3977 - 84. abstract

R. Singh, J. Lemire, R. Mailloux and V.D. Appanna (2008)
A novel strategy involved in anti-oxidative defense: the conversion of NADH into NADPH by a metabolic network.
PLoS ONE 3 (7): e2682. pdf
 
 
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