Principal Scientist
Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology
Rampalli lab studies the molecular mechanisms by which lysine methyltransferases (KMTs) regulate epigenetic and non-epigenetic programs of stemness and differentiation, and how dysregulation of these enzymes leads to neurodevelopmental disease & aging. The lab integrates Cellular, Biochemical, Molecular, and Genetic approaches to comprehend function of KMTs and its impact on human health. Through her labs discoveries, she aims to identify clinically actionable targets for developmental disease.
Current focus areas include:
- Elucidating non-epigenetic functions of lysine methyltransferases in self-renewal & differentiation.
- Developing genetically engineered hESC models for chromatinopathies
- Unravel non epigenetic roles of methyltransferases in maintaining somatic cell identity & aging
Rampalli lab has demonstrated the LaminB1 methylation by EHMT1 and its impact on Somatic cell aging. The lab is currently investigating the function of LaminB1 methylation in maintaining Stemness and differentiation into neuronal lineage.
Her lab has recently developed human ES based disease models using CRISPR/Cas9 technology for Kleefstra Syndrome and SOTOS syndrome for unraveling the molecular underpinnings of these developmental disease.
Recently, her lab is also exploring host mediated lysine methylation of viral proteins and its impact on host-pathogen interaction. The work is further expanded using organoid based models to identify small molecule viral inhibitors.
Selected Publications:
- Initiation of wound healing is regulated by the convergence of mechanical and epigenetic cues. Bhatt, T., Dey, R., Hegde, A., Ketkar, A. A., Pulianmackal, A. J., Deb, A. P., Rampalli, S., & Jamora, C. PLoS Biology. 2022. 20(9), e3001777.
- KMT1 family methyltransferases regulate heterochromatin-nuclear periphery tethering via histone and non-histone protein methylation. Rao, R. A., Ketkar, A. A., Kedia, N., Krishnamoorthy, V. K., Lakshmanan, V., Kumar, P., Mohanty, A., Kumar, S. D., Raja, S. O., Gulyani, A., Chaturvedi, C. P., Brand, M., Palakodeti, D., & Rampalli, S. EMBO reports. 2019. 20(5), e43260.
- Characterization of new variant human ES line VH9 hESC (INSTEMe001-a): a tool for human stem cell and cancer research. Arasala, R. R., Jayaram, M., Chattai, J., Kumarasamy, T., Sambasivan, R., & Rampalli, S. Stem cell research, 2019. 37, 101444.
- Ezh2 mediated H3K27me3 activity facilitates somatic transition during human pluripotent reprogramming. Rao, R. A., Dhele, N., Cheemadan, S., Ketkar, A., Jayandharan, G. R., Palakodeti, D., & Rampalli, S. Scientific reports. 2015. 5, 8229.
- Hong, S. H., Rampalli, S., Lee, J. B., McNicol, J., Collins, T., Draper, J. S., & Bhatia, M. Cell fate potential of human pluripotent stem cells is encoded by histone modifications. Cell stem cell. 2011. 9(1), 24–36.
