Tsvetkov Lab Profile & Members
Andrey Tsvetkov Ph.D. – Assistant Professor
Education & Training
M.S. Molecular Biology – Moscow State University, Russian Federation
PhD Physiology and Biophysics – University of Illinois at Chicago
Areas of Interests
Research interests: Brain aging and Huntington’s Disease
Overview of Research
G-quadruplexes in the brain
DNA and RNA sequences containing four stretches of guanines are able to form tetra-stranded stable structures called the G-quadruplex (G4-DNA and G4-RNA). Although G4-DNA and G4-RNA have been studied in vitro for years, it is now clear that these structures are controlled by various G4-binding proteins and play important roles in DNA replication, transcription, and RNA processing in vivo. In the lab, we investigate whether manipulating G4-DNA and G4-RNA pathways could be a new target for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and slowing aging.
Molecular mechanisms of neuronal autophagy
Abnormal intracellular protein deposits and damaged organelles characterize many neurodegenerative disorders. Neurons are less able to degrade abnormal proteins and damaged organelles as they become older, linking the build-up of protein deposits and organelles and the appearance of adult-onset neurodegenerative disorders. We focus on the physiological and pathophysiological functions of macroautophagy (often called autophagy) in age-associated neuronal dysfunction and neurodegeneration. Our studies strongly suggest that at least some autophagic pathways can be modified with autophagy enhancers to boost degradation of abnormal protein, resulting in improved neuronal health.
Transcriptional dysregulation in brain aging
Epigenetic mechanisms, such as chemical modifications of DNA or associated proteins, are important in modulating gene transcription and, as a result, in regulating mechanisms of healthy and pathogenic aging. Phospholipids are abundant within the interior of the nucleus, but their function is not clear. Our data suggest that phospholipids target many proteins in the neuronal nucleus that epigenetically control transcription and DNA homeostasis. The goals of this project are to uncover fundamental molecular mechanisms by which phospholipids transcriptionally regulate successful and unsuccessful aging.
Chemotherapy- and virus-induced brain damage and aging
The degenerative processes induced by some chemicals or neurotropic viruses are remarkably similar to processes in aging. Thus, the mechanisms by which neurons cope with a chemical or viral insult may be a useful model of natural aging. Understanding the common mechanisms in chemically or virally associated neurological disturbances and aging can produce insights into our understanding of aging in general. The goals of this project are to understand molecular mechanisms by which chemotherapy drugs and neurotropic viruses induce neuronal dysfunction and accelerated aging.
Join Us
A postdoctoral position is available in the Tsvetkov lab. A Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. in molecular biology, cell biology, neuroscience or related field is required. Interested candidates should send a CV, a research statement, and contact information of three referees to Andrey.S.Tsvetkov@uth.tmc.edu. Summer student positions are also available.
Rocio Diaz Escarcega, Ph.D. – Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Education and Training
B.S. Chemistry, biology with minor in pharmacy
Ph.D. Neuroscience (2019)
Areas of Interests
Neurodegenerative diseases, molecular neurobiology, pharmacovigilance, machine and deep learning for image analyses
Research & Experience
I worked in a Neurophysiology lab under the guidance of Dr. Beltran-Parrazal and Dr. Morgado-Valle at the University of Veracruz, Mexico. I studied the subcellular distribution of fusion and fission proteins and their correlation with mitochondria morphology in response of Ca2+ homeostasis in neurons and astrocytes.
Currently studying neuronal functions of sphingosine kinase 2 (SK2) with Andrey Tsvetkov at The University of Texas McGovern Medical School at Houston. SK2 is a molecule that generates a fat-like compound that participates in a variety of processes critical for cells in the brain. We discovered that SK2 regulates a variety of processes in the neuronal nucleus including DNA damage responses, transcription, and protein degradation. Using novel fluorescence microscopy techniques and disease models, I plan to identify the molecular mechanisms regulated by SK2 in aging and neurodegeneration.
Hobbies & interests
Cooking, movies, sleeping, traveling and I love reptiles
Vijay Kumar M J, PhD. – Post doctoral research fellow
Education and training
M.Sc. Biochemistry, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India.
PhD. Neuroscience, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru, India.
Areas of interests
Molecular mechanisms of brain aging, Senescence, Neurodegeneration, Autophagy
Research & Experience
I did my PhD under the mentorship of Professor James Chelliah, and Professor Ravi Manjithaya, Department of Neuroscience, JNCASR. My doctoral research work was focused on understanding the impaired proteostasis in Huntington’s disease with an emphasis on autophagy dysfunction. My work was the first finding to show that basal autophagy is spatiotemporally maintained across different stages of disease progression in the HD mouse model, R6/2. I also showed that the drug Nilotinib (TasignaTM) is not neuroprotective and unable to rescue the behavioral deficits in the R6/2 mouse model. Apart from this project, I was also involved in another project, where I studied neurodevelopmental deficits in autism spectrum disorder and showed that small molecule 6BIO restored cognitive, emotional, and social symptoms by pharmacological intervention, particularly in adulthood in Syngap1+/- mouse model.
Despite our increasing understanding of pathogenesis of age-related neurological disorders, there are many areas that are unexplored or overlooked that created a gap in developing novel therapeutics to combat aging. Recently, Dr Andrey Tsvetkov lab has showed that stabilized G-quadruplex (G4-DNA) structures in brain cells cause genomic instability and contribute to neurodegenerative phenotypes. In continuation of these novel findings, my current work is focused on how G4s and G4 helicases contribute to accelerate the aging process and promote senescence in brain cells. I hypothesize that homeostatic imbalance of G4s, and G4 helicases are hallmarks of cellular senescence in brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease. I plan to conduct molecular and cellular experiments in mouse and human model systems to elucidate how G4s regulate aging process.
Hobbies & interests
Cooking, cricket, badminton, movies, and I love dogs.
Devika Shankar
Education and Training:
BA Neuroscience with minor in Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Rice University (May 2025)
Areas of Interests:
Neurodegenerative diseases, neurobiology, machine learning for image analysis
Research & Experience:
Studying the role of G-quadruplexes in mouse models of Alzheimer’s. We know about G-quadruplexes and their various roles in the cell in addition to their ability to enhance genomic instability in cancerous cells, but we don’t know much about their role in age-related neurodegenerative diseases, so studying the expression of G4s and helicases would give us more insight about this topic and let us conclude a concrete relationship between G-quadruplexes, aging, and Alzheimer’s.
Hobbies and Interests: Cooking, reading, watching movies, traveling
Abhijeet Patil – Research Assistant I
Education and Training
B.S. Zoology
M.S. Biotechnology-Animal Physiology
M.S. Biology (2021)
Areas of Interest
Neurodegenerative diseases, nerve regeneration, molecular neurobiology, molecular cell biology
Research & Experience
Studied characterization of GAP43-GFP fusion protein in PC12 and NIH3T3 cell line models to understand nerve regeneration at Texas A&M University- Kingsville. Project involved generation of stable pools expressing high levels of GAP43-GFP fusion protein and performing differentiation assay.
Hobbies & Interests
Swimming, cycling, reading and cooking. Also, enjoy visiting new places and exploring the world.
Karen Murambadoro
Education and Training
Currently finishing a B.A. in Neuroscience with a minor in Medical Humanities. Graduating in May 2023 at Rice University
Areas of Interest
mechanisms in brain aging, Alzheimer’s
Research & Experience
In the Tsvetkov Lab since Spring of 2021, I have assisted with studying sphingosine kinase 2 (SK2) and phosphorylated-sphingosine kinase 2 (pSK2) and their presentation in young and aged brain models.
Hobbies & Interests
Watching Soccer, Competitive Cheerleading, and exploring coffee shops.