Scholars@Duke

• Background
• 

  Education, Training, & Certifications

  • Ph.D., Osmania University (India) 1999
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  Previous Appointments & Affiliations

  • Assistant Professor in Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology, Clinical Science Departments 2019 - 2020
• Research
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  Selected Grants

  • The Role of GDF-15 in Aqueous Humor Outflow and Glaucoma awarded by National Institutes of Health 2018 - 2023
  • Trabecular Meshwork Cytoskeletal Signaling-Regulation of Aqueous Humor Outflow awarded by National Institutes of Health 2008 - 2023
  • Fiber Cell Membrane Organization-Role in Lens Architecture and Function awarded by National Institutes of Health 2014 - 2020
  • Role of S100A4 in Lens Homeostasis and Function awarded by National Institutes of Health 2016 - 2019
  • Fiber Cell Cytoskeletal Scaffolds-Role in Lens Architecture and Function awarded by National Institutes of Health 1999 - 2013
• Publications & Artistic Works
• 

  Selected Publications

  • Academic Articles

    • Allen, Ariana, Rupalatha Maddala, Camelia Eldawy, and Ponugoti Vasantha Rao. “Mechanical Load and Piezo1 Channel Regulated Myosin II Activity in Mouse Lenses.” Int J Mol Sci 23, no. 9 (April 24, 2022). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23094710.
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    • Choi, Jin A., Rupalatha Maddala, Shruthi Karnam, Nikolai P. Skiba, Robin Vann, Pratap Challa, and Ponugoti Vasantha Rao. “Role of vasorin, an anti-apoptotic, anti-TGF-β and hypoxia-induced glycoprotein in the trabecular meshwork cells and glaucoma.” J Cell Mol Med 26, no. 7 (April 2022): 2063–75. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcmm.17229.
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    • Maddala, Rupalatha, Leona T. Y. Ho, Shruthi Karnam, Iris Navarro, Anja Osterwald, Sandra S. Stinnett, Christoph Ullmer, Robin R. Vann, Pratap Challa, and Ponugoti V. Rao. “Elevated Levels of Growth/Differentiation Factor-15 in the Aqueous Humor and Serum of Glaucoma Patients.” J Clin Med 11, no. 3 (January 29, 2022). https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11030744.
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    • Bachman, William, Rupalatha Maddala, Ayon Chakraborty, Camelia Eldawy, Nikolai P. Skiba, and Ponugoti V. Rao. “Glucocorticoids Preferentially Influence Expression of Nucleoskeletal Actin Network and Cell Adhesive Proteins in Human Trabecular Meshwork Cells.” Front Cell Dev Biol 10 (2022): 886754. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2022.886754.
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    • Karnam, Shruthi, Rupalatha Maddala, Jonathan A. Stiber, and Ponugoti V. Rao. “Drebrin, an actin-binding protein, is required for lens morphogenesis and growth.” Dev Dyn 250, no. 11 (November 2021): 1600–1617. https://doi.org/10.1002/dvdy.353.
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    • Maddala, Rupalatha, Junyuan Gao, Richard T. Mathias, Tylor R. Lewis, Vadim Y. Arshavsky, Adriana Levine, Jonathan M. Backer, Anne R. Bresnick, and Ponugoti V. Rao. “Absence of S100A4 in the mouse lens induces an aberrant retina-specific differentiation program and cataract.” Sci Rep 11, no. 1 (January 26, 2021): 2203. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-81611-y.
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    • Maddala, Rupalatha, and Ponugoti Vasantha Rao. “Global phosphotyrosinylated protein profile of cell-matrix adhesion complexes of trabecular meshwork cells.” Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 319, no. 2 (August 1, 2020): C288–99. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpcell.00537.2019.
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    • Maddala, Rupalatha, Maureen Mongan, Ying Xia, and Ponugoti Vasantha Rao. “Calponin-3 deficiency augments contractile activity, plasticity, fibrogenic response and Yap/Taz transcriptional activation in lens epithelial cells and explants.” Sci Rep 10, no. 1 (January 28, 2020): 1295. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-58189-y.
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    • Rasiah, Pratheepa Kumari, Rupalatha Maddala, Vann Bennett, and Ponugoti Vasantha Rao. “Ankyrin-G regulated epithelial phenotype is required for mouse lens morphogenesis and growth.” Dev Biol 446, no. 1 (February 1, 2019): 119–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.12.016.
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    • Maddala, Rupalatha, Nikolai P. Skiba, and Ponugoti Vasantha Rao. “Vertebrate Lonesome Kinase Regulated Extracellular Matrix Protein Phosphorylation, Cell Shape, and Adhesion in Trabecular Meshwork Cells.” J Cell Physiol 232, no. 9 (September 2017): 2447–60. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcp.25582.
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    • Maddala, Rupalatha, and Ponugoti Vasantha Rao. “Switching of α-Catenin From Epithelial to Neuronal Type During Lens Epithelial Cell Differentiation.” Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 58, no. 9 (July 1, 2017): 3445–55. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.17-21539.
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    • Meekins, Landon C., Noel Rosado-Adames, Rupalatha Maddala, Jiagang J. Zhao, Ponugoti V. Rao, and Natalie A. Afshari. “Corneal Endothelial Cell Migration and Proliferation Enhanced by Rho Kinase (ROCK) Inhibitors in In Vitro and In Vivo Models.” Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 57, no. 15 (December 1, 2016): 6731–38. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.16-20414.
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    • Muralidharan, Arumugam Ramachandran, Rupalatha Maddala, Nikolai P. Skiba, and Ponugoti Vasantha Rao. “Growth Differentiation Factor-15-Induced Contractile Activity and Extracellular Matrix Production in Human Trabecular Meshwork Cells.” Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 57, no. 15 (December 1, 2016): 6482–95. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.16-20671.
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    • Maddala, Rupalatha, Mark Walters, Peter J. Brophy, Vann Bennett, and Ponugoti V. Rao. “Ankyrin-B directs membrane tethering of periaxin and is required for maintenance of lens fiber cell hexagonal shape and mechanics.” Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 310, no. 2 (January 15, 2016): C115–26. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpcell.00111.2015.
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    • Rao, Ponugoti Vasantha, and Rupalatha Maddala. “Ankyrin-B in lens architecture and biomechanics: Just not tethering but more.” Bioarchitecture 6, no. 2 (2016): 39–45. https://doi.org/10.1080/19490992.2016.1156284.
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    • Maddala, Rupalatha, Tharkika Nagendran, Richard A. Lang, Alexei Morozov, and Ponugoti V. Rao. “Rap1 GTPase is required for mouse lens epithelial maintenance and morphogenesis.” Dev Biol 406, no. 1 (October 1, 2015): 74–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2015.06.022.
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    • Pattabiraman, Padmanabhan P., Rupalatha Maddala, and Ponugoti Vasantha Rao. “Regulation of plasticity and fibrogenic activity of trabecular meshwork cells by Rho GTPase signaling.” J Cell Physiol 229, no. 7 (July 2014): 927–42. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcp.24524.
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    • Gandham, V. D., R. L. Maddala, V. Rao, J. Y. Jin, D. L. Epstein, R. P. Hall, and J. Y. Zhang. “Effects of Y27632 on keratinocyte procurement and wound healing.” Clin Exp Dermatol 38, no. 7 (October 2013): 782–86. https://doi.org/10.1111/ced.12067.
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    • Maddala, Rupalatha, Tharkika Nagendran, Gustaaf G. de Ridder, Kevin L. Schey, and Ponugoti Vasantha Rao. “L-type calcium channels play a critical role in maintaining lens transparency by regulating phosphorylation of aquaporin-0 and myosin light chain and expression of connexins.” Plos One 8, no. 5 (2013): e64676. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0064676.
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    • Iyer, Padma, Rupalatha Maddala, Padmanabhan P. Pattabiraman, and Ponugoti Vasantha Rao. “Connective tissue growth factor-mediated upregulation of neuromedin U expression in trabecular meshwork cells and its role in homeostasis of aqueous humor outflow.” Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 53, no. 8 (July 26, 2012): 4952–62. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.12-9681.
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    • Maddala, Rupalatha, Bharesh K. Chauhan, Christopher Walker, Yi Zheng, Michael L. Robinson, Richard A. Lang, and Ponugoti V. Rao. “Rac1 GTPase-deficient mouse lens exhibits defects in shape, suture formation, fiber cell migration and survival.” Dev Biol 360, no. 1 (December 1, 2011): 30–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.09.004.
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    • Maddala, Rupalatha, Nikolai P. Skiba, Robert Lalane, Diane L. Sherman, Peter J. Brophy, and Ponugoti V. Rao. “Periaxin is required for hexagonal geometry and membrane organization of mature lens fibers.” Dev Biol 357, no. 1 (September 1, 2011): 179–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.06.036.
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    • Inoue, Toshihiro, Paula Pecen, Rupalatha Maddala, Nikolai P. Skiba, Padmanabhan P. Pattabiraman, David L. Epstein, and P Vasantha Rao. “Characterization of cytoskeleton-enriched protein fraction of the trabecular meshwork and ciliary muscle cells.” Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 51, no. 12 (December 2010): 6461–71. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.10-5318.
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    • Rao, P Vasantha, and Rupalatha Maddala. “Abundant expression of ponsin, a focal adhesion protein, in lens and downregulation of its expression by impaired cytoskeletal signaling.” Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 50, no. 4 (April 2009): 1769–77. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.08-2909.
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    • Zhang, Min, Rupalatha Maddala, and Ponugoti Vasantha Rao. “Novel molecular insights into RhoA GTPase-induced resistance to aqueous humor outflow through the trabecular meshwork.” Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 295, no. 5 (November 2008): C1057–70. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpcell.00481.2007.
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    • Rao, P Vasantha, Tammy Ho, Nikolai P. Skiba, and Rupalatha Maddala. “Characterization of lens fiber cell triton insoluble fraction reveals ERM (ezrin, radixin, moesin) proteins as major cytoskeletal-associated proteins.” Biochem Biophys Res Commun 368, no. 3 (April 11, 2008): 508–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.01.128.
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    • Maddala, Rupalatha, Lixing W. Reneker, Bhavana Pendurthi, and Ponugoti V. Rao. “Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor-mediated disruption of Rho GTPase activity impairs lens fiber cell migration, elongation and survival.” Dev Biol 315, no. 1 (March 1, 2008): 217–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2007.12.039.
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    • Maddala, Rupalatha, Nikolai Skiba, and Ponugoti Vasantha Rao. “Lens fiber cell elongation and differentiation is associated with a robust increase in myosin light chain phosphorylation in the developing mouse.” Differentiation 75, no. 8 (October 2007): 713–25. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1432-0436.2007.00173.x.
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    • Sanka, Krishna, Rupalatha Maddala, David L. Epstein, and P Vasantha Rao. “Influence of actin cytoskeletal integrity on matrix metalloproteinase-2 activation in cultured human trabecular meshwork cells.” Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 48, no. 5 (May 2007): 2105–14. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.06-1089.
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    • Rao, P Vasantha, and Rupalatha Maddala. “The role of the lens actin cytoskeleton in fiber cell elongation and differentiation.” Semin Cell Dev Biol 17, no. 6 (December 2006): 698–711. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semcdb.2006.10.011.
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    • Chudgar, Saumil M., Peifeng Deng, Rupalatha Maddala, David L. Epstein, and P Vasantha Rao. “Regulation of connective tissue growth factor expression in the aqueous humor outflow pathway.” Mol Vis 12 (September 30, 2006): 1117–26.
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    • Maddala, Rupalatha, and Vasantha P. Rao. “alpha-Crystallin localizes to the leading edges of migrating lens epithelial cells.” Exp Cell Res 306, no. 1 (May 15, 2005): 203–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yexcr.2005.01.026.
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    • Rao, Ponugoti Vasantha, PeiFeng Deng, Rupalatha Maddala, David L. Epstein, Chuan-Yuan Li, and Hiroaki Shimokawa. “Expression of dominant negative Rho-binding domain of Rho-kinase in organ cultured human eye anterior segments increases aqueous humor outflow.” Mol Vis 11 (April 27, 2005): 288–97.
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    • Maddala, Rupalatha, Pei-Feng Deng, Joseph M. Costello, Eric F. Wawrousek, Jacob S. Zigler, and Vasantha P. Rao. “Impaired cytoskeletal organization and membrane integrity in lens fibers of a Rho GTPase functional knockout transgenic mouse.” Lab Invest 84, no. 6 (June 2004): 679–92. https://doi.org/10.1038/labinvest.3700105.
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    • Rao, Ponugoti Vasantha, Rupalatha Maddala, Faith John, and J Samuel Zigler. “Expression of nonphagocytic NADPH oxidase system in the ocular lens.” Mol Vis 10 (February 19, 2004): 112–21.
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    • Maddala, Rupalatha, Venkat N. Reddy, David L. Epstein, and Vasantha Rao. “Growth factor induced activation of Rho and Rac GTPases and actin cytoskeletal reorganization in human lens epithelial cells.” Mol Vis 9 (July 17, 2003): 329–36.
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    • Khurana, Rahul N., Rupa Latha Maddala, Hiroaki Shimokawa, J. Samuel Zigler, David L. Epstein, and P. Vasantha Rao. “Inhibition of Rho-kinase induces alphaB-crystallin expression in lens epithelial cells.” Biochem Biophys Res Commun 294, no. 5 (June 28, 2002): 981–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-291X(02)00583-1.
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    • Maddala, R., Y. W. Peng, and P. V. Rao. “Selective expression of the small GTPase RhoB in the early developing mouse lens.” Dev Dyn 222, no. 3 (November 2001): 534–37. https://doi.org/10.1002/dvdy.1202.
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    • Maddala, R. L., V. N. Reddy, and P. V. Rao. “Lovastatin-induced cytoskeletal reorganization in lens epithelial cells: role of Rho GTPases.” Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 42, no. 11 (October 2001): 2610–15.
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