Academics

Faculty & Staff

Manickam Sugumaran, PhD

Areas of Expertise

Protein Chemistry and Enzymology

Degrees

PhD, Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore, India., 1978
MS, Madras University, Madras, India, 1971
BS, Madras University, Madras, India, 1969

Professional Publications & Contributions

  • Reexamination of the mechanisms of oxidative transformation of the insect cuticular scleortizing precursor, 1,2-dehydro-N-acetyldopamine. Abele, A., Zheng, D., Evans, J. and Sugumaran, M. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 40, 650-659 (2010).
  • The crosslinking and antimicrobial properties of tunichrome. Cai, M., Sugumaran, M and Robinson, W.E. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. B 151, 110–117 (2008). doi:10.1016/j.cbpb.2008.06.004
  • Histidine rich glycoprotein from the hemolymph of the marine mussel Mythilus edulis L. binds class A, class B, and borderline metals. Devoid, S.J., Etter, R., Sugumaran. M., Wallace, G.T. and Robinson, W.E. Environ. Toxicol. Chem . 26, 872-877 (2007).
  • Identification and quantification of histidine rich glycoprotein (HRG) in the blood plasma of six marine bivalves. Abebe, A.T., Devoid, S.J., Sugumaran. M., Etter, R. and Robinson, W.E. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. B. 147, 74-81 (2007).
  • A new mechanism for the control of phenoloxidase activity - Inhibition and complex formation with quinone isomerase. M. Sugumaran, K. Nellaiappan and K. Valivittan. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 379, 252-260 (2000).
  • Purification, characterization and molecular cloning of prophenoloxidases from Sarcophaga bullata. M. R. Chase, K. Raina, J. Bruno and M. Sugumaran. Insect Biochem. Mol. Biol. 30, 953-967 (2000).
  • Oxidation chemistry of 1,2-dehydro-N-acetyldopamines: Direct evidence for the formation of 1,2-dehydro-N-acetyldopamine quinone. M. Sugumaran. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 378, 404-419 (2000).
  • Insect melanogenesis III. Metabolon formation in melanogenic pathway - Regulation of phenoloxidase activity by endogenous dopachrome isomerase (decarboxylating) from Manduca sexta. M. Sugumaran, K. Nellaiappan, C. Amaratunga, S. Cardinale and T. Scott. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 378, 393-403 (2000).
  • Characterization of a new phenoloxidase inhibitor from the cuticle of Manduca sexta. M. Sugumaran. and K. Nellaiappan. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 268, 379-383 (2000).
  • Formation of a new quinone methide intermediate during the oxidative transformation of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acids: Implications for eumelanin biosynthesis. M. Sugumaran, P. Duggaraju, E. Jayachandran and K. Kirk. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 371, 98-106 (1999).
  • Insect melanogenesis II. Inability of Manduca phenoloxidase to act on 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid. M. Sugumaran, R. Duggaraju, F. Generozova, and S. Ito. Pigment Cell Res. 12, 118-125 (1999).
  • Sugumaran, M. 1998. Unified mechanism for sclerotization of insect cuticle. Adv. Insect. Physiol. 27: 229-334.
  • Beck, G., S. Cardinale, L. Wang, M. Reiner and M. Sugumaran. 1996. Characterization of a defense complex consisting of interleukin 1 and phenoloxidase. J. Biol Chem. 271: 11035-11038.
  • Hall, M. T., Scott, M. and Sugumaran, K. Soderhall and J.H. Law. 1995. Proenzyme of Manduca sexta phenoloxidase: Purification, activation, substrate specificity of the active enzyme and molecular cloning. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 92: 7764-7768.
  • Sugumaran, M., and Ricketts, D. 1994. 1,2-Dehydro N-ß-alanyldopamine as a new intermediate in insect cuticular sclerotization. J. Biol. Chem. 269: 22217-2222.
  • Sugumaran, M, Semensi, V., Kalyanaraman B., Bruce, J.M. and Land E.J. 1992. Evidence for the formation of a quinone methide during the oxidation of the insect cuticular sclerotizing precursor 1,2 dehydro-N,-acetyldopamine. J. Biol. Chem. 267: 10355-10326.
  • Sugumaran, M. and Semensi, V. 1991. Quinone Methide as A New Intermediate in Melanin Biosynthesis. J. Biol. Chem. 266: 6073-6078.

Additional Information

Current Position
Professor
Department of Biology
University of Massachusetts Boston

Research Interests
Insects have great impact on agriculture, food industry and health. My laboratory is interested in studying three vital processes (cuticular sclerotization, insect immunity and wound healing) that are essential for the successful survival of insects. By elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes, one can develop new and novel insecticides that are environmentally safe. Hardening of the cuticle protects the insects from their environmental enemies and from dehydration. Arrest or even delay of this process has devastating consequences for insect viability. we have unraveled the molecular mechanisms of sclerotization that are partly responsible for the hardening of insects cuticle and discovered two new enzymes viz., quinone isomerase and quinone methide isomerase associated with this process. Currently we are studying the molecular aspects of these and other enzymes such as phenoloxidases to develop new insecticides for future use. We have also examining the molecular mechanisms of melanogenesis and discovered new quinone methide intermediate in this process. This finding can lead to the development of new drugs for treatment of malignant melanoma and other melanin related disorders. Apart from insect control measures, I am also interested in developing biological glues, natural hair coloring agents, skin color lightening agents and prevention of oxidative browning of food products.

Current Grant Support
Sclerotin precursors of Dipterans. The National Institute of Health. Funded 1996-1999, $750,788 - M. Sugumaran, PI.