Karthika Divakaran
Graduate Student
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
B.S., Osmania University, Hyderabad, INDIA
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Gail McCarver
Email: kdivakar@mcw.edu
Phone: (414) 955-4337
Research Interest
My research interest is in the area of gene-environment interactions, with a focus on inter-individual variations in human response to xenobiotics. Currently, I am investigating endocrine disruptors, a class of exogenous compounds that alter normal hormonal function. Bisphenol A (BPA), which is used in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, is known to be estrogenic at high doses. Increasing animal data support low dose toxicity; however, the mechanism(s) for these adverse effects and whether they occur in humans continues to be controversial. Limited data suggest that only the parent compound, not its conjugated forms, is estrogenic. Thus, human variation in disposition plays a central role in human susceptibility. My project employs molecular biology and analytical chemistry techniques to address the role of genetics and ontogeny as determinants of intersubject variation in human BPA disposition.
Publications
Shadley, J.D., Divakaran, K., Munson, K., Hines, R.N., Douglas, K., McCarver, D.G.: Identification and Functional Analysis of a Novel Human CYP2E1 Far Upstream Enhancer. Mol Pharmacol. 71(6):1630-9, 2007
Brousseau D.B., McCarver D.G., Drendal A.L., Divakaran K., Panepinto J.A.: The Effect of CYP2D6 Polymorphisms on the Response to Pain Treatment for Pediatric Sickle Cell Pain Crisis. J Pediatr. 150(6):623-6, 2007
Gaedigk A., Ndjountche L., Divakaran K., Bradford L.D., Zineh I., Oberlander T.F., Brousseau D.C., McCarver D.G., Johnson J.A., Alander S.W., Riggs K W., Leeder J.S.: Cytochrome P4502D6 (CYP2D6) gene locus heterogeneity: Characterization of Gene Duplication Events. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 81(2):242-251, 2007
Johnsrud, E.K., Koukouritaki, S.B., Divakaran, K., Brunengraber, L., Hines, R.N. and McCarver, D.G.: Human Hepatic CYP2E1 Expression during Development. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 307:402- 407, 2003.