A. Research Articles

1. K. Balamurugan, J-M. Wang, H. H. Tsai, S. Sharan, M. Anver, R. Leighty and E. Sterneck, The tumor suppressor CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Protein delta inhibits FBXW7 expression and promotes mammary tumor metastasis. EMBO J (2010), 29, 4106-4117.

- Comment in: EMBO J (2010), 29, 4063-4065. Pelorosso FG and Balmain A. C/EBPδ: friend or foe? a novel role for C/EBPδ in metastasis.

- Highlighted in: Mammary Cell News, Volume 2.43 November 18, 2010.

2. S.A. Pawar#, T. Roy Sarkar#, K. Balamurugan, S. Sharan, J. Wang, Y. Zhang, S.F. Dowdy, A.M. Huang, and E. Sterneck, C/EBPδ targets cyclin D1 for proteasome-mediated degradation via induction of Cdc27/Apc3 expression. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, (2010), 107, 9210-9215.

# Equal contribution.

3. K. Balamurugan, V. D. Luu, M.R. Kaufmann, V. S. Hofmann, G. Boysen, S. Barth, M.R. Bordoli, D.P. Stiehl, H. Moch, P.Schraml, R.H. Wenger and G.Camenisch, Onconeuronal cerebellar degeneration-related antigen, Cdr2, is strongly expressed in papillary renal cell carcinoma and leads to attenuated hypoxic response. Oncogene (2009) 28, 3274-3285.

4. K. Balamurugan, H. Hua, O. Georgiev and W. Schaffner, Mercury and cadmium trigger expression of the copper importer Ctr1B, which enables Drosophila to thrive on heavy metal-loaded food. Biol. Chem. (2009) 390, 109-113.

5. R. Wirthner, S. Wrann, K. Balamurugan, R. H. Wenger, and D. P. Stiehl, Impaired DNA double-strand break repair contributes to chemoresistance in HIF-1alpha-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Carcinogenesis (2008) 29, 2306-2316.

6. X. Chen#, H. Hua#, K. Balamurugan#, X. Kong, L. Wang, G. N. George, O. Georgiev, W. Schaffner and D. P. Giedroc, Copper sensing function of Drosophila metal-responsive transcription factor-1 is mediated by a tetranuclear Cu(I) cluster. Nuc. Acids Res. (2008) 36, 3128-3138.

# Equal contribution.

7. K. Balamurugan, D. Egli, H. Hua, R. Rajaram, G. Seisenbacher, O. Georgiev and W. Schaffner, Copper homeostasis in Drosophila by complex interplay of import, storage and behavioral avoidance. EMBO J (2007) 26, 1035-1044.

8. D. Egli, J. Domenech, A. Selvaraj, K. Balamurugan, H. Hua, M. Capdevila, O. Georgiev and W. Schaffner and S. Atrian, The four members of the Drosophila metallothionein family exhibit distinct yet overlapping roles in heavy metal homeostasis and detoxification. Genes Cells (2006) 11, 647- 658.

9. D. Egli, H. Yepiskoposyan, A. Selvaraj, K. Balamurugan, R. Rajaram, A. Simons, G.  Multhaup, S. Mettler, A. Vardanyan, O. Georgiev, and W. Schaffner, A family knockout of all four Drosophila metallothioneins reveals a central role in copper homeostasis and detoxification. Mol. Cell Biol. (2006) 26, 2286-2296.

10. A. Selvaraj, K. Balamurugan, H. Yepiskoposyan, H. Zhou, D. Egli, O. Georgiev, D.J. Thiele and W. Schaffner, Metal transcription factor (MTF-1) handles both extremes, copper load and   copper starvation, by activating different genes. Genes & Dev. (2005) 19, 891-896.

11. K. Balamurugan, D. Egli, A. Selvaraj, B. Zhang, O. Georgiev and W. Schaffner, Metal transcription factor (MTF-1) and heavy metal stress response in Drosophila and  mammalian cells: a functional comparison. Biol. Chem. (2004) 385, 597-603.

12. T. Ramasami, R. Rajaram, K. Balamurugan, C. Vasant and K. M. Ananth, Approaches to a molecular insight into chromium(III)-induced apoptosis of human lymphocytes. Proc. Indian Natl. Sci. Acad. (2004) 70A (2), 343-353.

13. K. Balamurugan, R. Rajaram and T. Ramasami, Caspase-3: its potential involvement in Cr(III)-induced apoptosis of lymphocytes. Mol. Cell. Biochem. (2004) 259, 43-51.

14. K. Balamurugan, R. Rajaram, T. Ramasami and S. Narayanan, Cr(III)-induced apoptosis of lymphocytes: Death decision by ROS and  Src-family tyrosine kinases. Free Radic. Biol. Med. (2002) 33, 1622-1640.

15. C. Vasant, K. Balamurugan, R. Rajaram and T. Ramasami, Apoptosis of lymphocytes induced by Cr(V) complexes: Role in Cr(VI) induced toxicity. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. (2001) 285, 1354-1360.

16. K. Balamurugan, C. Vasant, R. Rajaram and T. Ramasami, Hydroxopentammine-        chromium(III) promoted phosphorylation of bovine serum albumin: It’s potential implications in understanding biotoxicity of chromium. Biochim. Biophys. Acta, (1999) 1427, 357-366.

B. Commentaries

1. K. Balamurugan* and E. Sterneck, “Hypoxia augments macrophage-induced T‑cell suppression”, Personalized Medicine (2011) 8(2), 129-130.

2. K. Balamurugan and E. Sterneck, “An emerging role of PHD3 in pancreatic tumor growth”, Personalized Medicine (2011) 8(2), 130-131.

3. K. Balamurugan and E. Sterneck, “A cooperative function of N-Myc and HIF-1a in neuroblastoma”, Personalized Medicine (2011) 8(2), 131.

4. K. Balamurugan and E. Sterneck, “Role of hypoxia-inducible factors in oral squamous cell carcinoma”, Personalized Medicine (2011) 8(2), 132.

* Corresponding Author

C. Book Chapters

1. K. Balamurugan and W. Schaffner, Regulation of Metallothionein Gene Expression. In: Metal ions in life sciences. 2009, Vol. 5, 31-49, Royal Society of Chemistry, UK.

2. R. Wirthner, K. Balamurugan, D. P. Stiehl, S. Barth, P. Spielmann, F. Oheme, I. Flamme,  D.M. Katchinski, R. H. Wenger and G. Camenisch, Determination and modulation of prolyl-4-hydroxylase domain (PHD) oxygen sensor activity. Methods in Enzymol. 2007, 435, 43-60.

D. Reviews

1. K. Balamurugan and W. Schaffner, Copper homeostasis in eukaryotes: teetering on a tightrope, Biochim Biophys Acta (Mol Cell Res) 2006, 1763, 737-746.