Sharmistha Mitra, Ph.D. Titles and Appointments Assistant Professor School Medical School Department Pediatrics | Biochemistry Biography Sharmistha Mitra, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Child Neurology and Department of Biochemistry at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She is also an investigator within the Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute. She joined UT Southwestern faculty as instructor in July 2020. Dr. Mitra earned a bachelor’s in Zoology at the University of Calcutta in Kolkata, India. She then completed a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental at the University of New Hampshire, graduating summa cum laude. In 2013, she completed a Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences in the field of ubiquitin binding domains at Virginia Tech University. Dr. Mitra focuses much of her research on protein modification by ubiquitin and its impact on diseases. Especially, she is interested in identifying the role of ubiquitination in glycogen biology and its role in glycogen metabolism related neurological and neuromuscular diseases. Research Interest Protein-protein interactions in glycogen metabolism and neuromuscular diseases Role of ubiquitin ligases in glycogen storage diseases Therapy of glycogen metabolism-related pediatric neuromuscular diseases Publications Featured Publications Myofiber-type-dependent 'boulder' or 'multitudinous pebble' formations across distinct amylopectinoses. Mitra S, Chen B, Shelton JM, Nitschke S, Wu J, Covington L, Dear M, Lynn T, Verma M, Nitschke F, Fuseya Y, Iwai K, Evers BM, Minassian BA, Acta Neuropathol 2024 Feb 147 1 46 Laforin targets malin to glycogen in Lafora progressive myoclonus epilepsy. Mitra S, Chen B, Wang P, Chown EE, Dear M, Guisso DR, Mariam U, Wu J, Gumusgoz E, Minassian BA, Dis Model Mech 2023 Jan 16 1 Glycogen synthase downregulation rescues the amylopectinosis of murine RBCK1 deficiency. Nitschke S, Sullivan MA, Mitra S, Marchioni CR, Lee JPY, Smith BH, Ahonen S, Wu J, Chown EE, Wang P, Petkovic S, Zhao X, DiGiovanni LF, Perri AM, Israelian L, Grossman TR, Kordasiewicz H, Vilaplana F, Iwai K, Nitschke F, Minassian BA, Brain 2022 Jan LUBAC: a new player in polyglucosan body disease. Aboujaoude A, Minassian B, Mitra S, Biochem Soc Trans 2021 Nov 49 5 2443-2454 Targeting Gys1 with AAV-SaCas9 Decreases Pathogenic Polyglucosan Bodies and Neuroinflammation in Adult Polyglucosan Body and Lafora Disease Mouse Models. Gumusgoz E, Guisso DR, Kasiri S, Wu J, Dear M, Verhalen B, Nitschke S, Mitra S, Nitschke F, Minassian BA, Neurotherapeutics 2021 Apr Lafora disease - from pathogenesis to treatment strategies. Nitschke F, Ahonen SJ, Nitschke S, Mitra S, Minassian BA, Nat Rev Neurol 2018 10 14 10 606-617 Characterization of Staphylococcus epidermidis Polynucleotide phosphorylase and its interactions with ribonucleases RNase J1 and RNase J2. Raj R, Mitra S, Gopal B, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 2018 01 495 2 2078-2084 Six Transmembrane Epithelial Antigen of Prostate 1 (STEAP1) Has a Single b Heme and Is Capable of Reducing Metal Ion Complexes and Oxygen. Kim K, Mitra S, Wu G, Berka V, Song J, Yu Y, Poget SF, Wang DN, Tsai AL, Zhou M Biochemistry 2016 Oct The Structure of a Sugar Transporter of the Glucose EIIC Superfamily Provides Insight into the Elevator Mechanism of Membrane Transport. McCoy JG, Ren Z, Stanevich V, Lee J, Mitra S, Levin EJ, Poget S, Quick M, Im W, Zhou M Structure 2016 Jun 24 6 956-64 Ubiquitin interacts with the Tollip C2 and CUE domains and inhibits binding of Tollip to phosphoinositides. Mitra S, Traughber CA, Brannon MK, Gomez S, Capelluto DGS, J Biol Chem 2013 Sep 288 36 25780-25791 Results 1-10 of 12 1 2 Next Last Honors & Awards Dr. Roy Elterman Pediatric Neurology Research Award (2020-2021) Nature Career Expo Travel AwardUniversity of Texas System (2018) Biophysical Society monthly newsletterSelected to be featured in the Biophysical Society Student Spotlight section (2012) Graduate Research & Development Grant AwardGraduate Student Association, Virginia Tech (2012) 'Make-a-difference' ScholarshipCollege of Science, Virginia Tech (2012-2013) The American Heart Association Predoctoral FellowshipThe American Heart Association (2012-2013) Best Interdisciplinary Oral Presentation AwardAmerican Coastal Conference Interdisciplinary Forum for Diversity in Life Sciences, Virginia Tech (2010) Certificate of achievement for 'Outstanding Participation in US Community and Campus life'US Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (2008) Certificate of Recognition for 'Outstanding Academic Achievement' Academy for Educational Development (2008) Fralin Graduate FellowshipFralin Research Institute, Virginia Tech (2008-2009) International Peace Scholarship for Women (2008-2009) Undergraduate Research AwardUniversity of New Hampshire, Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (2007-2008) Partnership for Learning Undergraduate Studies Scholarship (PLUS)Scholarship created by the U.S Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, guided by Fulbright Association, India and funded by Academy for Educational Development, USA. Selected as the only Molecular biology student among ten scholars from India (2006) Special Medal Award Department of ZoologyBethune College, University of Calcutta for achieving First Class Honors in Zoology (2006) 2005 Gold Medal AwardBy Tadoba Andhari Tiger project (TATP), India for obtaining the 1st position in a national level debate on Molecular Biology organized by TATP (2005) Dean's listBethune College, Department of Zoology (2003-2006) 2001 Foundation for Excellence ScholarshipFor excellent performance in 10th standard (2001) Professional Associations/Affiliations American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) American Society of Cell Biology (ASCB) American Society of Investigative Pathology (ASIP)
