Biology subjects

Behara, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Behara, S..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Glutamine Metabolism Supports α cell Mass and Glucagon Secretion

The liver- cell axis is a finely tuned biological rheostat that regulates whole body amino acid availability. Pancreatic cells secrete glucagon that regulates amino acid catabolism through gluconeogenesis and ureagenesis, yet the mechanisms linking amino acid levels to cell growth and function are not fully understood. Here, we identify glutaminase, the enzyme that catalyzes glutamine catabolism, as a critical cell regulator. Glutaminase is highly enriched in cells across species. cell expression of glutaminase is required for nutrient-dependent mTORC1 activation, suppression of AMPK signaling, and sustained expression of the glutamine transporter SLC38A5. This establishes a feed-forward loop linking glutamine metabolism to amino acid sensing and growth. Reduced glutaminase activity impairs dynamic glucagon secretion in response to low glucose and amino acids. Together, these findings highlight the importance of glutamine metabolism in cell growth and hormone secretion and suggest it may play a role in cell adaptation to hyperaminoacidemia.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2025

Neurodevelopmental origin of seizures in Lowe syndrome

Lowe syndrome (LS) is a rare X-linked monogenic disorder resulting from mutations in the OCRL1 gene that encodes a phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate 5 phosphatase enzyme. Patients with LS exhibit a range of neurological symptoms, including neurodevelopmental delays, hypotonia, febrile seizures, and behavioural abnormalities; however, the cellular and developmental origins of LS remain poorly understood. The Drosophila genome encodes a single homolog of OCRL (docrl). Here, we report that a germline null allele of docrl (docrlKO) shows heat induced seizures reminiscent of the febrile seizures in LS patients. Cell type specific deletion of docrl in neurons was sufficient to recapitulate the heat induced seizures seen in docrlKO indicating a cell autonomous requirement of docrl in neurons to prevent seizures. Temporally controlled deletion of docrl showed that heat induced seizure in adults were predetermined by a requirement of docrl in neural stem cells during embryonic neurogenesis. Collectively, our findings demonstrate the developmental origin of the neurological manifestations of LS highlighting the need to target potential therapeutic interventions during this developmental time window.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

Integrative Transcriptomics and Phytochemical Screening Reveal Pratenol B, Eriodictyol, Losbanine, and Isookanin, as Potential EGFR and HRAS Inhibitors in Indian Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common head and neck cancer, with India contributing nearly one-third of the global cases. Management of OSCC remains difficult due to increasing risk factors, limited therapeutic options, severe side effects, and rising drug resistance. Therefore, novel and safer treatment strategies are urgently needed. This study explores the potential of phytochemicals as targeted inhibitors of key dysregulated biomarkers in Indian OSCC patients. RNA sequencing and pathway analysis revealed significant alterations in the MAPK signaling pathway, highlighting EGFR and HRAS as crucial therapeutic targets. Given the limited clinical success of existing EGFR-targeted therapies and the scarcity of HRAS inhibitors, a natural product-based approach was adopted. Molecular docking of 17,000 phytochemicals identified Pratenol B, Eriodictyol, Losbanine, and Isookanin as promising inhibitors, with Pratenol B showing dual inhibition of EGFR and HRAS. These compounds exhibited strong binding affinities, favorable pharmacokinetic profiles, high bioavailability, and low toxicity. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the stability of Pratenol B with both target proteins, surpassing reference inhibitors. Utilizing vast medicinal plant diversity presents a cost-effective and low-toxicity avenue for OSCC therapy. Further in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies are warranted to validate these phytochemicals as potential therapeutics.

cancer biology↗