R. PADINJAT

Ca2+ binding to Esyt is required to modulate membrane contact site density in Drosophila photoreceptors

This study shows that Ca2+ binding to dEsyt modulates ER-PM MCS density in Drosophila photoreceptors, linking Ca2+ influx to signal transduction.

A genetic and physiological model of renal dysfunction in Lowe syndrome

This study uses a Drosophila nephrocyte model to show that OCRL loss causes endolysosomal defects and kidney dysfunction, which can be rescued by human OCRL but not by mutant variants.

PI3P dependent regulation of cell size and autophagy by phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate 4-kinase

This study shows that PIP4K regulates cell size and autophagy in Drosophila by controlling PI3P levels, with implications for neurodegeneration and tumour growth.

A human stem cell resource to decipher the biochemical and cellular basis of neurodevelopmental defects in Lowe Syndrome

This study generates human stem cell lines from Lowe Syndrome patients to investigate the cellular and biochemical mechanisms of brain development defects caused by OCRL1 mutations.

Septin function tunes lipid kinase activity and phosphatidylinositol 4,5 bisphosphate turnover during G-protein coupled PLC signaling in vivo

This study identifies a septin 7 and Sip1 mediated mechanism that couples PIP5K activity to PLC mediated PI(4,5)P2 depletion during phototransduction in Drosophila.