Kamal D. Mehta

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Professor

Ph.D. - McMaster University Medical Center
Post Doctoral - University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas

My laboratory is interested in understanding the signaling cascades and the mechanisms regulating transcription of lipoprotein receptors involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. The projects in progress will not only help investigate the molecular basis of atherosclerosis but may also provide a link between atherosclerosis, diabetes, and aging.

We use molecular biology, biochemical, and immunological approaches to understand the role of mitogen-activated protein kinases and protein kinase C in regulating transcription of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL), squalene synthase, and scavenger receptor genes in different human cell types. Recent studies from our laboratory have identified a crucial role for the above kinases in regulating transcription of LDL receptor promoter by growth factors, cytokines, phorbol-esters, and intracellular calcium levels. We are now interested in specifically defining the nuclear factors that are modified upon activation of these kinases, and the mechanisms by which they stimulate transcription at the promoter level.

Recent Publications:

• Huang W, Bansode R, Mehta M and Mehta KD (2009) "Loss of Protein Kinase Cß Function Protects Mice Against Diet-Induced Obesity and Development of Hepatic Steatosis and Insulin Resistance" Hepatology 49(5):1525-36.
• Bansode RR, Huang W, Roy SK, Mehta M and Mehta KD (2008) "Protein kinase C deficiency increases fatty acid oxidation and reduces fat storage" J Biol Chem 283(1):231-6.
• Wang HM, Mehta S, Bansode R, Huang W and Mehta KD (2008) "AICAR positively regulate glycogen synthase activity and LDL receptor expression through Raf-1/MEK/p42/44MAPK/p90RSK/GSK-3 signaling cascade" Biochem Pharmacol 75(2):457-67.
• Huang W, Batra S, Korrapati S and Mehta KD (2006) "Selective repression of low density lipoprotein receptor expression by SP600125: coupling of histone H3-Ser10 phosphorylation and Sp1 occupancy" Mol Cell Biol 26(4):1307-17.
• Huang W, Batra S, Atkins BA, Mishra V and Mehta KD (2005) "Increases in intracellular calcium dephosphorylate histone H3 at serine 10 in human hepatoma cells: potential role of protein phosphatase 2A-protein kinase CßII complex" J Cell Physiol 205(1):37-46.
• Mishra V and Mehta KD (2004) History and Biochemistry of Statins. In Statins: Understanding Clinical Use. Ed. J. L. Mehta, Saunders, Philadelphia.
• Huang W, Mishra V, Batara S, Dillon I and Mehta KD (2004) "Phorbol ester promotes histone H3-Ser10 phosphorylation at the LDL receptor promoter in a protein kinase C-dependant manner" J Lipid Res 45(8):1519-27.
• Kapoor GS, Golden C, Atkins BA and Mehta KD (2003) "pp90RSK- and protein kinase C-dependent pathway regulates p42/44MAPK-induced LDL receptor transcription in HepG2 cells" J Lipid Res 44(3):584-93.
• Mehta KD, Radominska-Pandya A, Kapoor GS, Dave B and Atkins BA (2002) "Critical role of diacylglycerol- and phospholipid-regulated protein kinase Ce in induction of low density lipoprotein receptor transcription in response to depletion of cholesterol" Mol Cell Biol 22(11):3783-93.