Welcome to BSS lab

About our research:

For Scientists: DCVs (Dense core vesicles) are specialised sub-cellular organelles present in neuronal/neuro-endocrine cells and regulate diverse physio-metabolic functions. They undergo stimulus dependent secretion and the phenomenon is " regulated secretion". Although the research on DCVs has been pursued from 70's many aspects, related to sub-cellular trafficking /secretion is unknown and we plan to address this question. Besides, we are also interested in understanding how DCV proteins regulate neuronal, metabolic and physiological functions.

For the layman: Living beings are comprised of fundamental units called as 'cells' which are compartmentalised into organelles with each organelle having a distinct function. We plan to study one such organelle called as " Dense core vesicles" named after their appearance of having a dense core when visualized under an electron microscope. The idea is to study how they are made, move around in the cell and how they are spewed out under certain conditions. Besides, we are also interested in how faulty components of dense core vesicles will lead to various disease conditions such as diabetes, obesity, mental health disorders associated with brain and other non-communicable diseases where function of these vesicles is compromised. These groups of diseases cause an enormous amount of socioeconomic burden and are one of the predominant causes of mortality both nationally/internationally, hence research what we do is of immense public benefit.