Ram Nagaraj, PhD

Publications

• J.C. Portillo, A. Pfaff, S. Vos, M. Weng, R.H. Nagaraj and C.S. Subauste. Advanced glycation end products upregulate CD40 in retinal endothelial and Muller cells: Relevance to diabetic retinopathy. Cells.13(5):429. doi: 10.3390/cells13050429, 2024.
• G. Johnson, B. Kodati, R. B. Nahomi, J. Pham, R. Phillips, R.R. Krishnamoorthy, R. H. Nagaraj, D.L. Stankowska. On the Mechanism of Inhibition of Retinal Ganglion Cell Death by Peptain-1 under Glaucomatous Stress. 2024. Revised submitted to Cell Death and Discovery 10:305, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-024-02070-8, 2024
• S. Panja, R.B. Nahomi, J. Rankenberg, M. Cole and R.H. Nagaraj. Thiol-mediated Enhancement of N?-acetyllysine Formation in Lens Proteins. ACS Chem Biol. 19: 1495–1505, 2024.
• G. Cooksley, M. Nam, R.B. Nahomi, J. Rankenberg, Y. Wormstone, I.M. Wormstone and R.H. Nagaraj. Lens capsule advanced glycation end products induce senescence in epithelial cells: Implications for secondary cataracts. Aging Cell. 00:e14249, 2024.
• C. Michel, R. B. Nahomi, M. A. Assiri, K.Henriksen, D.Orlicky, R. Reisdorph, P.S. Harris, M. Levi, A. Rosenberg, R. H. Nagaraj, K. S. Fritz. Quantifying Protein Acetylation in Diabetic Nephropathy from Formalin-fixed Paraffin-embedded Tissue. Proteomics - Clin Applicat. un 24:e202400018. doi: 10.1002/prca.202400018, 2024.
• M. Nam, A. Dhillon and R.H. Nagaraj. Peptain-1 inhibits ischemia/reperfusion-mediated retinal capillary degeneration in mice. Front Cell Neurosci.18: https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2024.1441924, 2024.
• Panja S, Nahomi RB, Rankenberg J, Michel CR, Gaikwad H, Nam MH, Nagaraj RH. Aggrelyte-2 promotes protein solubility and decreases lens stiffness through lysine acetylation and disulfide reduction: Implications for treating presbyopia. Aging Cell. 2023 Apr;22(4):e13797. PubMed PMID: 36823285
• Panja S, Gaikwad H, Rankenberg J, Nam MH, Nagaraj RH. Promotion of Protein Solubility and Reduction in Stiffness in Human Lenses by Aggrelyte-1: Implications for Reversing Presbyopia. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Jan 22;24(3). PubMed PMID: 36768517
• S. Panja, M. Nam, H. Gaikwad, RJ. Rankenberg and R.H. Nagaraj. Topical ocular application of aggrelyte-2A reduces lens stiffness in mice. Front. Ophthalmol. DOI 10.3389/fopht.2023.1274825, 2023.
• Nam MH, Stankowska DL, Johnson GA, Nahomi RB, Pantcheva MB, Nagaraj RH. Peptains block retinal ganglion cell death in animal models of ocular hypertension: implications for neuroprotection in glaucoma. Cell Death Dis. 2022 Nov 15;13(11):958. PubMed PMID: 36379926
• Nam MH, Nahomi RB, Pantcheva MB, Dhillon A, Chiodo VA, Smith WC, Nagaraj RH. AAV2-Mediated Expression of HspB1 in RGCs Prevents Somal Damage and Axonal Transport Deficits in a Mouse Model of Ocular Hypertension. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2022 Nov 1;11(11):8. PubMed PMID: 36355386
• Rajeswaren V, Wong JO, Yabroudi D, Nahomi RB, Rankenberg J, Nam MH, Nagaraj RH. Small Heat Shock Proteins in Retinal Diseases. Front Mol Biosci. 2022;9:860375. PubMed PMID: 35480891
• 109. S.K. Nandi, J. Rankenberg, S. Rakete, R.B. Nahomi, M. A. Glomb, M.D. Linetsky and R.H. Nagaraj. Glycation-mediated protein crosslinking and stiffening in mouse lenses are inhibited by carboxitin in vitro. Glycoconj. J. 38: 347–359, 2021
• 110. M. Nam, M. Pantcheva and R.H. Nagaraj. Transforming growth factor-ß2-mediated mesenchymal transition of lens epithelial cells is repressed in the absence of RAGE Biochem. J. 478: 2285-2296, 2021
• 111. J. Rankenberg, B. D. Wagner, J. Patnaik, S. Rakete, M. A. Glomb, A, C. Henning, A. Lynch and R. H. Nagaraj. Advanced glycation endproducts in human diabetic lens capsules Exp. Eye Res. 210: 108704, 2021
• R.B. Nahomi, S. K. Nandi, S. Rakete, C. Michel, K.S. Fritz and R. H. Nagaraj. Lysine malonylation and propionylation are prevalent in human lens protein. Exp. Eye Res. 190: Article 107864, 2020.PMID: 31678036, PMCID: PMC6957740
• M. Nam, K. A.J.O Smit, M.B. Pantcheva, K.U. Park, J.A. Brzezinski, J.J. Galligan, K.S. Fritz, I.M. Wormstone and R.H. Nagaraj. Aspirin inhibits TGF-ß2 mediated epithelial to mesenchymal transition of lens epithelial cells: selective acetylation of K56 and K122 in histone H3. Biochem. J. 477, 75-97, 2020. PMID: 31815277
• R.B. Nahomi, M. Nam, J. Rankenberg, S. Rakete, J. Houck, G.C. Johnson, D. Stankowska, M.P. Pantcheva, P.S. McLean and R.H. Nagaraj. Kynurenic acid protects against ischemia-reperfusion-induced retinal ganglion cell death in mice Int. J. Mol. Sci. 21, 1795, 2020.PMID: 32151061 PMCID: PMC7084183
• S.K. Nandi, R. Nahomi, J. Rankenberg, M. A. Glomb and R.H. Nagaraj. Glycation-mediated inter-protein cross-linking is promoted by chaperone-client complexes of a-crystallin: Implications for lens aging and presbyopia. J. Biol. Chem. 295, 5701–5716, 2020. PMID: 32184356 PMCID: PMC7186181
• S. K. Nandi, J. Rankenberg, M.A. Glomb and R.H. Nagaraj. Transient elevation of temperature promotes cross-linking of a-crystallin-client proteins through AGE formation: A potential role in presbyopia and cataracts. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 533: 1352-1358, 2020.PMID: 33081971 PMCID: PMC7744422
• S.K. Nandi, J. Rankenberg, S. Rakete, R.B. Nahomi, M. A. Glomb, M.D. Linetsky and R.H. Nagaraj. Carboxitin inhibits glycation-mediated protein crosslinking and stiffening in mouse lenses (In press, Glycoconj. J.). PMID: 33245448
• Nam MH, Smith AJO, Pantcheva MB, Park KU, Brzezinski JA, Galligan JJ, Fritz K, Wormstone IM, Nagaraj RH. Aspirin inhibits TGFß2-induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition of lens epithelial cells: selective acetylation of K56 and K122 in histone H3. Biochem J. 2020 Jan 17;477(1):75-97. PubMed PMID: 31815277
• Nahomi RB, Nandi SK, Rakete S, Michel C, Fritz KS, Nagaraj RH. Lysine malonylation and propionylation are prevalent in human lens proteins. Exp Eye Res. 2020 Jan;190:107864. PubMed PMID: 31678036
• Stankowska DL, Nam MH, Nahomi RB, Chaphalkar RM, Nandi SK, Fudala R, Krishnamoorthy RR, Nagaraj RH. Correction: Systemically administered peptain-1 inhibits retinal ganglion cell death in animal models: implications for neuroprotection in glaucoma. Cell Death Discov. 2019;5:122. PubMed PMID: 31372242
• Nandi SK, Nahomi RB, Harris PS, Michel CR, Fritz KS, Nagaraj RH. The absence of SIRT3 and SIRT5 promotes the acetylation of lens proteins and improves the chaperone activity of a-crystallin in mouse lenses. Exp Eye Res. 2019 May;182:1-9. PubMed PMID: 30849386
• Nandi SK, Rakete S, Nahomi RB, Michel C, Dunbar A, Fritz KS, Nagaraj RH. Succinylation Is a Gain-of-Function Modification in Human Lens aB-Crystallin. Biochemistry. 2019 Mar 5;58(9):1260-1274. PubMed PMID: 30758948
• Nahomi RB, Nandi SK, Nagaraj RH. A monoclonal antibody targeted to the functional peptide of aB-crystallin inhibits the chaperone and anti-apoptotic activities. J Immunol Methods. 2019 Apr;467:37-47. PubMed PMID: 30738041
• A. I. Marin, J. Brzezinski, R. H. Nagaraj, J. K. Singh. Biology of the Eye”, A Novel Multi-Format Translational Elective for Medical Students Interested in Learning More About the Eye and Ophthalmology. J. Acad. Ophthalmol. 11(01): e30-e35, 2019.
• Flückiger R, Cocuzzi E, Nagaraj RH, Shoham M, Kern TS, Medof ME. DAF in diabetic patients is subject to glycation/inactivation at its active site residues. Mol Immunol. 2018 Jan;93:246-252. PubMed PMID: 28886871
• Nam M, and Nagaraj RH. Matrix-bound AGEs enhance TGFß2-mediated mesenchymal transition of lens epithelial cells via the non-canonical pathway: Implications for secondary cataract formation. Biochem J. 2018 Apr 475(8): 1427-40. doi: 10.1042/BCJ20170856. PMID: 29588342.
• R. B. Nahomi, S. Sampathkumar, A. M. Myers, D. G. Smith, J. Tang, C. Allen Lee, T. S. Kern, R. H. Nagaraj and P. E. Fort. The absence of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase inhibits retinal capillary degeneration in diabetic mice. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 59: 2042–2053, 2018.
• R. Nahomi and R. H. Nagaraj. Role of HIF-1a in TGF2-mediated epithelial to mesenchymal transition of lens epithelial cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 1: 1-14, 2018.
• R. Flückiger, E. Cocuzzi, R. H. Nagaraj, M. Shoham, T. S. Kern and M.E. Medof. DAF in diabetic patients is subject to glycation/inactivation at its active site residues. Mol. Immunol. 93:246-252, 2018.
• V. Miller, J. Patnaik, A. Lynch, M. Taravella, A. Palestine and R. Nagaraj. Risk Factors Predisposing to Early Nd:YAG Capsulotomy in a Colorado Cohort. ARVO 2018
• D. Stankowska, R. Nahomi, R. Chaphalkar, R. Krishnamoorthy and R. Nagaraj. The neuroprotective potential of a small, blood-retinal barrier permeable peptide in glaucoma. ARVO 2018
• R. Nagaraj and M. Nam. AGEs promote TGFß2-mediated EMT response through the non-canonical pathway. ARVO 2018
• R. H. Nagaraj. Carbonyl stress as a driver of fibrosis.19th international workshop- enzymology and molecular biology of carbonyl metabolism, Breckenridge, 2018
• M. Nam, D. Stankowska, R. B. Nahomi, R. R. Krishnamoorthy and R. H. Nagaraj. Retinal Neuroprotection by Peptain-1. CU Ophthalmology Research Day, 2018
• M. Nam and R. H. Nagaraj. AGEs in extracellular matrix enhance the TGFß2-mediated mesenchymal transition of lens epithelial cells. IMARS Meeting, Montreal, 2018
• R. H. Nagaraj, S. K. Nandi, S. Rakete, R. B. Nahomi, C. Michel, A. Dunbar and K. Fritz. Acylation of lens proteins improves the chaperone activity of a-crystallin. ICER, Belfast, 2018. 
• D.L. Stankowska, M. Nam, R.B. Nahomi, R.M. Chaphalkar, R. R. Krishnamoorthy and  R.H.Nagaraj. Neuroprotective Potential of Peptain-1 for Glaucoma.ICER, Belfast, 2018. 
• A. I. Marin, J. Brzezinski, R. Nagaraj, J. K. Singh. "Biology of the Eye”, A Novel Multi-Format Translational Elective for Medical Students Interested in Learning More About the Eye and Ophthalmology
• Rakete S, Nagaraj RH. UVA Light-mediated Ascorbate Oxidation in Human Lenses. Photochem Photobiol. 2017 Jul;93(4):1091-1095. PubMed PMID: 28084012
• Raghavan CT, Nagaraj RH. AGE-RAGE interaction in the TGFß2-mediated epithelial to mesenchymal transition of human lens epithelial cells. Glycoconj J. 2016 Aug;33(4):631-43. PubMed PMID: 27263094
• Nahomi RB, Pantcheva MB, Nagaraj RH. aB-crystallin is essential for the TGF-ß2-mediated epithelial to mesenchymal transition of lens epithelial cells. Biochem J. 2016 May 15;473(10):1455-69. PubMed PMID: 26987815
• Rakete S, Nagaraj RH. Identification of Kynoxazine, a Novel Fluorescent Product of the Reaction between 3-Hydroxykynurenine and Erythrulose in the Human Lens, and Its Role in Protein Modification. J Biol Chem. 2016 Apr 29;291(18):9596-609. PubMed PMID: 26941078
• Holm T, Raghavan CT, Nahomi R, Nagaraj RH, Kessel L. Effects of photobleaching on selected advanced glycation end products in the human lens. BMC Res Notes. 2015 Jan 16;8(1):5. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 25592966
• Nahomi RB, DiMauro MA, Wang B, Nagaraj RH. Identification of peptides in human Hsp20 and Hsp27 that possess molecular chaperone and anti-apoptotic activities. Biochem J. 2015 Jan 1;465(1):115-25. PubMed PMID: 25332102
• M.Smuda, C. Hennning, C. Raghavan, K. Johar, A. R. Vasavada, R.H. Nagaraj and M. Glomb. Comprehensive analysis of Maillard protein modifications in the human lens during aging and cataract formation Biochemistry, 54: 2500-2507, 2015.
• T. Holm, C.T. Raghavan, R. Nahomi, R. H. Nagaraj, L. Kessel. Effects of photobleaching on advanced glycation end products in the human lens. BMC Ophthalmol. BMC Research Notes 8:5, 2015
• R.H. Nagaraj, S. Sampathkumar and R. B. Nahomi. sHSP Peptides Inhibit Protein Aggregation and Apoptosis in the Eye. AOPT, Charleston, SC, 2015
• R. H. Nagaraj, T.S. Kern, J.Tang, A. Lee, S. Sampthkumar and R.B. Nahomi. Identification of a new target to inhibit diabetic retinopathy in mice. 7th Ocular Drug Discovery Meeting, San Diego, 2015.
• C.T. Raghavan , M. Smuda, A. J. Smith, A. Singh , P. Gupta , M. Glomb, M. Wormstone , R. H. Nagaraj. AGE levels are higher in capsules of human cataractous lenses than non-cataractous lenses: Relevance to TGFß2 induced EMT response in human lens epithelial cells. ARVO 2015
• S.Rakete, H.Wang, M. Linetsky , R. H. Nagaraj. Identification of a novel fluorescent product from the reaction of 3OH-kynurenine and erythrulose: Relevance to lens aging. ARVO 2015
• R. B. Nahomi, R. H. Nagaraj. The role of aB-crystallin in TGF-ß2 induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition of lens epithelial cells. ARVO 2015
• S. Rakete and R. H. Nagaraj. Kynoxazine: a novel fluorescent compound in human lens derived from the Maillard reaction of 3-hydroxykynurenine and erythrulose. Maillard Meeting Tokyo, Japan, 2015
• R. B. Nahomi, R. H. Nagaraj. aB-Crystallin is essential for the TGF-ß2-mediated epithelial to mesenchymal transition of lens epithelial cells. International Congress on lens, Hawaii, 2015
• R. B. Nahomi, M. A. DiMauro, B. Wang and R. H. Nagaraj. Identification of peptides in human Hsp20 and Hsp27 that possess molecular chaperone and anti-apoptotic activities. Biochem. J. 465, 115-25, 2015
• Linetsky M, Raghavan CT, Johar K, Fan X, Monnier VM, Vasavada AR, Nagaraj RH. UVA light-excited kynurenines oxidize ascorbate and modify lens proteins through the formation of advanced glycation end products: implications for human lens aging and cataract formation. J Biol Chem. 2014 Jun 13;289(24):17111-23. PubMed PMID: 24798334
• Nahomi RB, Palmer A, Green KM, Fort PE, Nagaraj RH. Pro-inflammatory cytokines downregulate Hsp27 and cause apoptosis of human retinal capillary endothelial cells. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2014 Feb;1842(2):164-74. PubMed PMID: 24252613
• DiMauro MA, Nandi SK, Raghavan CT, Kar RK, Wang B, Bhunia A, Nagaraj RH, Biswas A. Acetylation of Gly1 and Lys2 promotes aggregation of human ?D-crystallin. Biochemistry. 2014 Nov 25;53(46):7269-82. PubMed PMID: 25393041
• R.H. Nagaraj, R. B. Nahomi, N. H. Mueller, C. T. Raghavan, D. A. Ammar and J. M. Petrash. Therapeutic Potential of a-Crystallin. Biochim. Biophys. Acta
• A. K. Panda, S. K. Nandi, A. Chakraborty, R. H. Nagaraj and A. Biswas. Differential Role of Arginine Mutations on the Structure and Functions of a-crystallin. Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 2015 (in press)
• S. Panja, H. Gaikwad, J. Rankenberg, M. Nam and R.H. Nagaraj. Promotion of Protein Solubility and Reduction of Stiffness in Human Lenses by Aggrelyte-1: Implications for Reversing Presbyopia. (In Press, IJMS)