Faculty & Staff Details

	Name:	Thomas Thekkumkara, Ph.D.
	Position:	Amarillo Regional Dean, Professor
	Email:	thomas.thekkumkara@ttuhsc.edu
	Bio	Thomas Thekkumkara , Ph.D., is the Regional Dean for the School of Pharmacy's Amarillo campus and a Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences. He earned his Ph.D. in Chronobiology/Physiology from Kanpur University, India. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Biochemistry at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. He then served on the faculty of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio and also of the Weis Center for Research at PennState University College of Medicine in Danville, Pennsylvania. Prior to joining Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Dr. Thekkumkara was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine/Cellular and Structural Biology at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado. His research interests include cellular and molecular biology of hypertension and diabetes with primary focus on angiotensin II receptor regulation and function.

Education:

Undergraduate Education

Bachelor of Science in Biology, Kerala University, India, 1976

Graduate Education

Master of Science in Biology, Kanpur University, India, 1978
Doctor of Philosophy in Chronobiology/Physiology, Kanpur University, India, 1984

Postgraduate Education

Postdoctoral Fellow in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Case Western Reserve University, 1985-1989.

Research Interests:

I am primarily interested in molecular mechanisms of activation and regulation of G-protein coupled receptors. I have focused on the receptor for the potent vasoconstrictor hormone, angiotensin II, as a model for the subfamily of G-protein coupled receptors. Angiotensin II is the effector of the renin-angiotensin system, which plays a critical role in blood pressure regulation and electrolyte balance and which has been implicated in many important medical disorders, including hypertension and congestive heart failure, with its associated cardiovascular and renal damage. Consequently, investigating the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of Angiotensin II receptor activation and regulation is crucial for understanding the physiology and pathophysiology of the renin-angiotensin system.

Publications:

Selected Publications:

Bhat, G.J., Thekkumkara, T.J., Thomas, W.G., Conrad, K.M and Baker K.M. Angiotensin II stimulate sis-inducing factor-like DNA binding activity: Evidence that the AT1A receptor activates transcription factor-Stat 91 and/or a related protein. J. Biol. Chem. 269: 31443-31449, 1994.

Thekkumkara, T.J., Du, J., Dostal, D.E., Motel, T.J., Thomas, W.G and Baker, K.M. Stable expression of a functional rat angiotensin II (AT1A) receptor in CHO-K1 cells: Rapid desensitization by angiotensin II. Mol. Cell. Biochem. 146: 79-89, 1995.

Thomas, W.G., Thekkumkara, T.J., Motel, T.J and Baker, K.M. Stable expression of a truncated AT1A receptor in CHO-K1 cells: The carboxyl-terminal region directs agonist-induced internalization, but not receptor signaling or desensitization. J. Biol. Chem. 270: 207-213, 1995.

Thekkumkara, T.J., Du, J., Zwaagstra, J.C., Krupinski, J and Baker, K.M. A role for cAMP in angiotensin II mediated inhibition of cell growth in AT1A receptor-transfected CHO-K1 cells. Mol. Cell. Biochem. 152: 77-86, 1995.

Bhat, G.J., Thekkumkara, T.J., Thomas, W.G., Conrad, K.M and Baker K.M. Activation of the STAT pathway by angiotensin II in T3CHO/AT1A cells: Crosstalk between angiotensin II and interleukin-6 nuclear signaling. J. Biol. Chem. 270: 19059-19065, 1995.

Thomas, W.G., Baker, K.M., Motel, T.J, and Thekkumkara, T.J. Angiotensin II (AT1A) receptor endocytosis involves two distinct regions of the cytoplasmic tail: a role for residues on the hydrophobic face of a putative amphipathic helix. J. Biol. Chem. 270: 22153-22159, 1995.

Thomas, W.G., Thekkumkara, T.J, and Baker, K.M. Cardiac effects of angiotensin II: AT1 receptor signaling, desensitization and internalization, in: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, (M.K. Raizada, M.I. Phillips, C. Sumners, eds.), Plenum Press, New York, 396: 59-69, 1996.

Thomas, W.G., Baker K.M., Booz GW and Thekkumkara, T.J. Evidence against a role for protein kinase C in the desensitization of the angiotensin II (AT1A) receptor. Eur. J. Pharmacol., 295: 119-122, 1996.

Thomas, W.G., Thekkumkara, T.J. and Baker, K.M. Molecular mechanisms of angiotensin II (AT1A) receptor endocytosis. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 3: 74-80, 1996.

Thekkumkara, T.J., Thomas, W.G., Motel, T.J. and Baker, K.M. Functional role for the angiotensin II (AT1A) receptor 3'untranslated region in determining cellular responses to agonist: Evidence for recognition by RNA binding proteins. Biochem. J. 329: 255-264, 1998.

Thekkumkara,T.J., Cookson, R and Linas, S.L. Angiotensin (AT1A) receptor mediated increases in transcellular sodium transport in proximal tubule cells. Am.J. Physiol. 274: F897-F905, 1998.

Wyse, B.D, Linas, S.L and Thekkumkara, T.J., Functional role of a novel cis-acting element (GAGA box) in human angiotensin type 1 receptor gene transcription. J. Mol. Endo. 25: 97-108, 2000.

Huszár, T., Mucsi, I., Antus, B., Terebessy, T., Jeney, C., Masszi, A., Hunyady, L., Mihalik, B., Goldberg H.J. Thekkumkara, T.J., Rosivall, L. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (erk) and the small GTP-binding protein, p21rac1 are involved in the regulation of gene transcription by angiotensin II. Exp. Nephrol. 9: 142-149, 2001.

Fierens, F.L.P., Vanderheyden, P.M.L., Roggeman, C., De Backer, J-P., Thekkumkara, T.J., and Vauquelin, G. Tight binding of the angiotensin AT(1) receptor antagonist. Biochem. Pharmacol. 15: 1227-1235, 2001.

Thekkumkara,T.J., and Linas, S.L. Role of internalization in AT1A receptor function in proximal tubule epithelium. Am. J. Physiol. 282: F623-F629, 2002.

Thekkumkara,T.J., and Linas, S.L. Evidence for involvement of 3' untranslated region in determining angiotensin II receptor coupling specificity to G-protein. Biochem. J. 370: 631-639, 2003.

Bhat GJ, Samikkannu T, Thomas JJ, Thekkumkara TJ Alpha thrombin rapidly induces tyrosine phosphorylation of a novel, 74-78 kDa stress response protein(s) in lung fibroblast cells. J Biol Chem. 2004 Sep 13 [Epub ahead of print]

Thomas BE, Thekkumkara TJ Glucose mediates transcriptional repression of the human angiotensin type-1 receptor gene: role for a novel cis-acting element. Mol Biol Cell. 2004 Oct;15(10):4347-55. Epub 2004 Jul 21.

Weidanz JA, Jacobson LM, Muehrer RJ, Djamali A, Hullett DA, Sprague J, Chiriva-Internati M, Wittman V, Thekkumkara TJ, Becker BN. ATR blockade reduces IFN-gamma production in lymphocytes in vivo and in vitro. Kidney Int. 2005 Jun;67(6):2134-42.