Andrei V. Budanov, Ph. D.

Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery/ Biochemistry&Molecular Biology

Virginia Commonwealth University

Massey Cancer Center, Goodwin Bldg

401 College Street Rm288

Richmond, VA 23298

PO Box: 980035

Tel: 804-628-3837

Fax: 804-628-2293

Email: abudanov@vcu.edu

Education:

M.S., 1996, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

Ph.D., 2002, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology

Training:

The Cleveland Clinic Foundation (Dr. Peter Chumakov Lab)

University of California, San Diego (Dr. Michael Karin Lab)

Research:

Our lab is studying a recently discovered Sestrin gene family that is composed of three genes in mammals. Sestrin genes are highly conserved in evolution among metazoans and encode proteins induced by many stress insults including DNA-damage, oxidants and hypoxia through the activation of p53 and FoxO transcriptional factors. During my previous studies the critical role of Sestrins in antioxidant defense and in the regulation of the AMPK-mTOR pathway, which controls cell growth, metabolism and autophagy, has been established. Moreover we have demonstrated that inactivation of Drosophila Sestrin gene significantly accelerates aging phenotype and causes the accumulation of many age-related abnormalities such as impaired lipid metabolism, heart dysfunction and muscle degeneration.

Currently we are studying the function of Sestrins in mammals using knockout and transgene models. We are pursuing the role of Sestrins in aging and protection against age-related diseases including cancer, metabolic syndrome and neurodegeneration. We are also studying the mechanisms of AMPK and mTOR regulation by Sestrins. Part of our research is focused on understanding the mechanisms of the regulation of aging by Sestrins using Drosophila and C. elegans models.

Selected Publications:

Budanov AV, Shoshani T, Faerman A, Zelin E, Kamer I, Kalinski H, Gorodin S, Fishman A, Chajut A, Einat P, Skaliter R, Gudkov AV, Chumakov PM, and Feinstein E.(2002). Identification of a novel stress responsive gene Hi95 involved in regulation of cell viability. Oncogene, 21(39), 6017-6031 PMID: 12203114

Budanov AV, Sablina AA, Feinstein E, Koonin E, and Chumakov PM. (2004). Regeneration of Peroxiredoxins by p53-Regulated Sestrins, Homologs of Bacterial AhpD. Science, 304(5670), 596-600 PMID: 15105503

Sablina AA*, Budanov AV*. [equal contribution], Ilyinskaya GV, Agapova LS, Kravchenko JE, and Chumakov PM. (2005). The antioxidant function of the p53 tumor suppressor. Nature Medicine, 11(12), 1306-1313. PMID: 16286925

Budanov AV and Karin M. The p53-responsive Sestrin gene products inhibit mTOR signaling. (2008). Cell, 134(3), 451-460. PMID: 18692468

Lee JH, Budanov AV, Park EJ, Kim TE, Perkins GA, Ocorr K, Ellisman MH, Bodmer E, Bier E, and Karin M. (2010). Sestrin is a feedback inhibitor of TOR that prevents age-related pathologies. Science, 327(5970), 1223-1228. PMID: 20203043

Budanov AV, Lee JH, and Karin M. (2010) Stressin’ Sestrins take an aging fight. (Review). EMBO Molecular Medicine, 2(10), 388-400. PMID: 20878915

Budanov AV. Stress-responsive Sestrins link p53 with redox regulation and mTOR signaling. (2011). (Review). Antioxidant and Redox Signaling, 15(6), 1679-1690. PMID: 20712410