Prashanth Rangan, PhD
- ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | Cell, Developmental & Regenerative Biology
Research Topics:
Cell Biology, Chromatin, DNA Recombination, Developmental Biology, Epigenetics, Gene Expressions, Gene Regulation, Genetics, Protein Translation, RNA, RNA Splicing & Processing, RNA Transport & Localization, Reproductive Biology, Stem Cells, Translation, mRNA DecayPrashanth Rangan, Ph.D, is an Associate Professor of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology and Pediatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. His team studies the genetic basis of female fertility using fruit fly oogenesis as a model system. Germ cells differentiate by undergoing meiosis to produce an oocyte. Once an oocyte fate is specified, the oocyte synthesizes mRNAs and proteins called the maternal contribution that are critical for initiating development of the early embryo. The Rangan lab research program asks the following questions pertaining to how germ cells transition into an oocyte:
How is germ cell entry into meiosis controlled?
How is the germ cell program terminated upon initiation of oocyte fate?
How are maternal mRNAs synthesized, selected, and regulated to initiate the next generation?
How does the surrounding soma regulate oocyte development?
The Rangan lab has discovered a programmatic transition that is required for germ cells to transition into an oocyte that we have termed germ cell to maternal transition (GMT). We find that GMT includes a broad transcriptional reprogramming, specialized translation, and RNA degradation programs. We believe that defects in GMT could result in infertility. Thus, understanding this transition could underpin potential therapies for infertility.
Ongoing research interests include:
Determining transcriptional and post-transcriptional control of germ cell to maternal transition
Identifying the cue that initiates germ cell to maternal transition
Ascertaining the conservation of germ cell to maternal transition invertebrates
For more information, please visit the rangan lab website.
Multi-Disciplinary Training Area
Development Regeneration and Stem Cells [DRS]Education
PhD, The Johns Hopkins University
Postdoctoral fellow, NYU School of Medicine
Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device and biotechnology companies to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their relationships with such companies.
Dr. Rangan did not report having any of the following types of financial relationships with industry during 2022 and/or 2023: consulting, scientific advisory board, industry-sponsored lectures, service on Board of Directors, participation on industry-sponsored committees, equity ownership valued at greater than 5% of a publicly traded company or any value in a privately held company. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.
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