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Faculty Dr Pitchaiah Cherukuri

Dr Pitchaiah Cherukuri

Assistant Professor

Department of Biological Sciences

Contact Details

pitchaiah.c@srmap.edu.in

Office Location

Education

2012
PhD
International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences (IMPRS)/European Neuroscience Institute (ENI), Göttingen
Germany
2007
MSc
National Brain Research Centre
India
2005
BSc
YM College, Bharati Vidayapeeth
India

Experience

  • 2017–2021 - Research Associate at Interfaculty Chair for Neurobiological Research, RWTH, Aachen, Germany
  • 2012–2016 - Postdoctoral researcher at European Neuroscience Institute (ENI), Göttingen, Germany

Research Interest

  • The goal of our research is to understand the molecular underpinnings of spinal moto-neuron diversity and neuromuscular plasticity. We are particularly interested in under-standing the effects of enhanced or reduced activity on the neuromuscular system using rodent models. Following neuromuscular conditioning in mice, we plan to employ state of the art electrophysiological, molecular, and optophysiological tools to study motor unit plasticity. Also we aim to study mechanisms underlying exercise-mediated neuroprotection

Awards

  • 2009-2012 - Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences and Molecular Biosciences (GGNB) - Excellence Fellowship for Research
  • 2008-2009 - IMPRS Neurosciences Fellowship
  • 2007-2008 - Stipend of the Excellence Foundation for the Promotion of the Max Planck Society

Memberships

  • International MotoNeuron Society

Publications

  • ERR2 and ERR3 promote the development of gamma motor neuron functional properties required for proprioceptive movement control

    Dr Pitchaiah Cherukuri, Stefan Bonn., Mudassar N Khan., Francesco Negro., Camille Lancelin., Till Marquardt

    Source Title: PLoS Biology, Quartile: Q1, DOI Link

    View abstract ⏷

    AU The:ability Pleaseconfirmthatallheadinglevelsarerepresentedcorrectly of terrestrial vertebrates to effectively move on land : is integrally linked to the diversification of motor neurons into types that generate muscle force (alpha motor neurons) and types that modulate muscle proprioception, a task that in mammals is chiefly mediated by gamma motor neurons. The diversification of motor neurons into alpha and gamma types and their respective contributions to movement control have been firmly established in the past 7 decades, while recent studies identified gene expression signatures linked to both motor neuron types. However, the mechanisms that promote the specification of gamma motor neurons and/or their unique properties remained unaddressed. Here, we found that upon selective loss of the orphan nuclear receptors ERR2 and ERR3 (also known as ERR?, ERR? or NR3B2, NR3B3, respectively) in motor neurons in mice, morphologically distinguishable gamma motor neurons are generated but do not acquire characteristic functional properties necessary for regulating muscle proprioception, thus disrupting gait and precision movements. Complementary gain-of-function experiments in chick suggest that ERR2 and ERR3 could operate via transcriptional activation of neural activity modulators to promote a gamma motor neuron biophysical signature of low firing thresholds and high firing rates. Our work identifies a mechanism specifying gamma motor neuron functional properties essential for the regulation of proprioceptive movement control.

Patents

Projects

Scholars

Post- Doctoral Scholars

  • Dr V A Jemi Feiona

Doctoral Scholars

  • Kadiyala Venkata Sruthi
  • Sruthi Sreekantan

Interests

  • Learning & memory
  • Neuromuscular plasticity
  • Spinal motoneuron diversity

Thought Leaderships

There are no Thought Leaderships associated with this faculty.

Top Achievements

Education
2005
BSc
YM College, Bharati Vidayapeeth
India
2007
MSc
National Brain Research Centre
India
2012
PhD
International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences (IMPRS)/European Neuroscience Institute (ENI), Göttingen
Germany
Experience
  • 2017–2021 - Research Associate at Interfaculty Chair for Neurobiological Research, RWTH, Aachen, Germany
  • 2012–2016 - Postdoctoral researcher at European Neuroscience Institute (ENI), Göttingen, Germany
Research Interests
  • The goal of our research is to understand the molecular underpinnings of spinal moto-neuron diversity and neuromuscular plasticity. We are particularly interested in under-standing the effects of enhanced or reduced activity on the neuromuscular system using rodent models. Following neuromuscular conditioning in mice, we plan to employ state of the art electrophysiological, molecular, and optophysiological tools to study motor unit plasticity. Also we aim to study mechanisms underlying exercise-mediated neuroprotection
Awards & Fellowships
  • 2009-2012 - Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences and Molecular Biosciences (GGNB) - Excellence Fellowship for Research
  • 2008-2009 - IMPRS Neurosciences Fellowship
  • 2007-2008 - Stipend of the Excellence Foundation for the Promotion of the Max Planck Society
Memberships
  • International MotoNeuron Society
Publications
  • ERR2 and ERR3 promote the development of gamma motor neuron functional properties required for proprioceptive movement control

    Dr Pitchaiah Cherukuri, Stefan Bonn., Mudassar N Khan., Francesco Negro., Camille Lancelin., Till Marquardt

    Source Title: PLoS Biology, Quartile: Q1, DOI Link

    View abstract ⏷

    AU The:ability Pleaseconfirmthatallheadinglevelsarerepresentedcorrectly of terrestrial vertebrates to effectively move on land : is integrally linked to the diversification of motor neurons into types that generate muscle force (alpha motor neurons) and types that modulate muscle proprioception, a task that in mammals is chiefly mediated by gamma motor neurons. The diversification of motor neurons into alpha and gamma types and their respective contributions to movement control have been firmly established in the past 7 decades, while recent studies identified gene expression signatures linked to both motor neuron types. However, the mechanisms that promote the specification of gamma motor neurons and/or their unique properties remained unaddressed. Here, we found that upon selective loss of the orphan nuclear receptors ERR2 and ERR3 (also known as ERR?, ERR? or NR3B2, NR3B3, respectively) in motor neurons in mice, morphologically distinguishable gamma motor neurons are generated but do not acquire characteristic functional properties necessary for regulating muscle proprioception, thus disrupting gait and precision movements. Complementary gain-of-function experiments in chick suggest that ERR2 and ERR3 could operate via transcriptional activation of neural activity modulators to promote a gamma motor neuron biophysical signature of low firing thresholds and high firing rates. Our work identifies a mechanism specifying gamma motor neuron functional properties essential for the regulation of proprioceptive movement control.
Contact Details

pitchaiah.c@srmap.edu.in

Scholars

Doctoral Scholars

  • Kadiyala Venkata Sruthi
  • Sruthi Sreekantan

Interests

  • Learning & memory
  • Neuromuscular plasticity
  • Spinal motoneuron diversity

Education
2005
BSc
YM College, Bharati Vidayapeeth
India
2007
MSc
National Brain Research Centre
India
2012
PhD
International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences (IMPRS)/European Neuroscience Institute (ENI), Göttingen
Germany
Experience
  • 2017–2021 - Research Associate at Interfaculty Chair for Neurobiological Research, RWTH, Aachen, Germany
  • 2012–2016 - Postdoctoral researcher at European Neuroscience Institute (ENI), Göttingen, Germany
Research Interests
  • The goal of our research is to understand the molecular underpinnings of spinal moto-neuron diversity and neuromuscular plasticity. We are particularly interested in under-standing the effects of enhanced or reduced activity on the neuromuscular system using rodent models. Following neuromuscular conditioning in mice, we plan to employ state of the art electrophysiological, molecular, and optophysiological tools to study motor unit plasticity. Also we aim to study mechanisms underlying exercise-mediated neuroprotection
Awards & Fellowships
  • 2009-2012 - Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences and Molecular Biosciences (GGNB) - Excellence Fellowship for Research
  • 2008-2009 - IMPRS Neurosciences Fellowship
  • 2007-2008 - Stipend of the Excellence Foundation for the Promotion of the Max Planck Society
Memberships
  • International MotoNeuron Society
Publications
  • ERR2 and ERR3 promote the development of gamma motor neuron functional properties required for proprioceptive movement control

    Dr Pitchaiah Cherukuri, Stefan Bonn., Mudassar N Khan., Francesco Negro., Camille Lancelin., Till Marquardt

    Source Title: PLoS Biology, Quartile: Q1, DOI Link

    View abstract ⏷

    AU The:ability Pleaseconfirmthatallheadinglevelsarerepresentedcorrectly of terrestrial vertebrates to effectively move on land : is integrally linked to the diversification of motor neurons into types that generate muscle force (alpha motor neurons) and types that modulate muscle proprioception, a task that in mammals is chiefly mediated by gamma motor neurons. The diversification of motor neurons into alpha and gamma types and their respective contributions to movement control have been firmly established in the past 7 decades, while recent studies identified gene expression signatures linked to both motor neuron types. However, the mechanisms that promote the specification of gamma motor neurons and/or their unique properties remained unaddressed. Here, we found that upon selective loss of the orphan nuclear receptors ERR2 and ERR3 (also known as ERR?, ERR? or NR3B2, NR3B3, respectively) in motor neurons in mice, morphologically distinguishable gamma motor neurons are generated but do not acquire characteristic functional properties necessary for regulating muscle proprioception, thus disrupting gait and precision movements. Complementary gain-of-function experiments in chick suggest that ERR2 and ERR3 could operate via transcriptional activation of neural activity modulators to promote a gamma motor neuron biophysical signature of low firing thresholds and high firing rates. Our work identifies a mechanism specifying gamma motor neuron functional properties essential for the regulation of proprioceptive movement control.
Contact Details

pitchaiah.c@srmap.edu.in

Scholars

Doctoral Scholars

  • Kadiyala Venkata Sruthi
  • Sruthi Sreekantan