Raju Baskar, Ph.D. - Faculty Profile

Biography

Molecular and cellular biologist with over 11 years of research experience in cytoskeleton biology, redox signaling, cell biology, biochemistry, developmental biology, and Drosophila genetics.
Research expertise centers on MICAL-mediated actin remodeling, actin-binding proteins, microtubule organization, cell polarity, and signaling mechanisms that control cellular organization and development.
Experienced in molecular, biochemical, genetic, imaging, and quantitative approaches, with a growing research focus on redox control of cytoskeletal dynamics in development, neuronal function, and disease.

Research Interest

Molecular and Cellular Biology

Publications

Featured Publications

Synergistic assembly, disassembly, and protection of complex forms of bundled F-actin.: Rajan S, Yoon J, Wu H, Baskar R, Aguirre R, Terman JR, Reisler E, J Cell Biol 2026 Aug 225 8
Disassembly of bundled F-actin and cellular remodeling via an interplay of Mical, cofilin, and F-actin crosslinkers.: Rajan S, Yoon J, Wu H, Srapyan S, Baskar R, Ahmed G, Yang T, Grintsevich EE, Reisler E, Terman JR, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023 Sep 120 39 e2309955120
Propagation of F-actin disassembly via Myosin15-Mical interactions.: Rich SK, Baskar R, Terman JR, Sci Adv 2021 May 7 20
The plus-tip tracking and microtubule stabilizing activities of Javelin-like regulate microtubule organization and cell polarity.: Baskar R, Bahkrat A, Otani T, Wada H, Davidov G, Pandey H, Gheber L, Zarivach R, Hayashi S, Abdu U, FEBS J 2019 Oct 286 19 3811-3830
Recapitulating Actin Module Organization in the Drosophila Oocyte Reveals New Roles for Bristle-Actin-Modulating Proteins.: Krishnan RK, Baskar R, Anna B, Elia N, Boermel M, Bausch AR, Abdu U, Int J Mol Sci 2021 Apr 22 8
Revisiting the Role of ß-Tubulin in Drosophila Development: β-tubulin60D is not an Essential Gene, and its Novel Pin ¹ Allele has a Tissue-Specific Dominant-Negative Impact.: Krishnan RK, Halachmi N, Baskar R, Bakhrat A, Zarivach R, Salzberg A, Abdu U, Front Cell Dev Biol 2021 9 787976
GFP-Forked, a genetic reporter for studying Drosophila oocyte polarity.: Baskar R, Bakrhat A, Abdu U, Biol Open 2019 Jan 8 1
The organization of Golgi in Drosophila bristles requires microtubule motor protein function and a properly organized microtubule array.: Melkov A, Baskar R, Shachal R, Alcalay Y, Abdu U, PLoS One 2019 14 10 e0223174
A new mode of mitochondrial transport and polarized sorting regulated by Dynein, Milton and Miro.: Melkov A, Baskar R, Alcalay Y, Abdu U, Development 2016 Nov 143 22 4203-4213
Near infra-red laser mediated photothermal and antitumor efficacy of doxorubicin conjugated gold nanorods with reduced cardiotoxicity in swiss albino mice.: Arunkumar P, Raju B, Vasantharaja R, Vijayaraghavan S, Preetham Kumar B, Jeganathan K, Premkumar K, Nanomedicine 2015 Aug 11 6 1435-44