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Research Interests:
Dr. Ramakrishnan and colleagues are studying the biology of human ovarian
cancer and developing therapeutic strategies for the selective elimination
of tumor cells. The laboratory is currently studying molecular mechanisms
involved in regulation of M-CSF gene at the transcriptional level.
In a second area, the laboratory is investigating the potential of targeting
toxin molecules to tumor cells by linking them to specific monoclonal
antibodies. Antibody-toxin conjugates (immunotoxins) selectively inhibit
tumor cell growth. Toxin molecules used in these studies are highly effective
in irreversibly inactivating eukaryotic ribosomes by the enzymatic removal
of an adenine residue (A4324) from 28 S RRNA. Using recombinant DNA methods,
structural changes are introduced in the toxin molecules to (1) improve
cytotoxicity, (2) increase the half-life of conjugates in circulation,
and (3) achieve better tumor localization and penetration.
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