Bechara Kachar, M.D.

Senior Investigator

Laboratory of Cell Structure and Dynamics

NIDCD

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Porter Neuroscience Research Center, Room 3D-824
35 Convent Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892

301-402-1600

kacharb@nidcd.nih.gov

Research Topics

The Laboratory of Cell Structure and Dynamics (LCSD) seeks an integrated molecular understanding of the architecture, dynamics, function, and renewal of specialized cellular structures - in particular those underlying mechanosensory function of auditory and vestibular sensory cells. The long-term goal of the program is to develop a framework for understanding the different forms of loss of mechanosensory function and to explore opportunities for preventive and therapeutic interventions.

Biography

Dr. Kachar received his M.D. degree from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1977. He did postdoctoral research on membrane structure and intercellular junctions with Pedro Pinto da Silva at the NCI and cell structure and motility with Thomas Reese at the NINDS. Dr. Kachar joined the NIDCD in 1986.

Selected Publications

  1. Ebrahim S, Chen D, Weiss M, Malec L, Ng Y, Rebustini I, Krystofiak E, Hu L, Liu J, Masedunskas A, Hardeman E, Gunning P, Kachar B, Weigert R. Dynamic polyhedral actomyosin lattices remodel micron-scale curved membranes during exocytosis in live mice. Nat Cell Biol. 2019;21(8):933-939.
  2. Ebrahim S, Avenarius MR, Grati M, Krey JF, Windsor AM, Sousa AD, Ballesteros A, Cui R, Millis BA, Salles FT, Baird MA, Davidson MW, Jones SM, Choi D, Dong L, Raval MH, Yengo CM, Barr-Gillespie PG, Kachar B. Stereocilia-staircase spacing is influenced by myosin III motors and their cargos espin-1 and espin-like. Nat Commun. 2016;7:10833.
  3. Beurg M, Cui R, Goldring AC, Ebrahim S, Fettiplace R, Kachar B. Variable number of TMC1-dependent mechanotransducer channels underlie tonotopic conductance gradients in the cochlea. Nat Commun. 2018;9(1):2185.
  4. Kurima K, Ebrahim S, Pan B, Sedlacek M, Sengupta P, Millis BA, Cui R, Nakanishi H, Fujikawa T, Kawashima Y, Choi BY, Monahan K, Holt JR, Griffith AJ, Kachar B. TMC1 and TMC2 Localize at the Site of Mechanotransduction in Mammalian Inner Ear Hair Cell Stereocilia. Cell Rep. 2015;12(10):1606-17.
  5. Zhao J, Krystofiak ES, Ballesteros A, Cui R, Van Itallie CM, Anderson JM, Fenollar-Ferrer C, Kachar B. Multiple claudin-claudin cis interfaces are required for tight junction strand formation and inherent flexibility. Commun Biol. 2018;1:50.

Related Scientific Focus Areas

This page was last updated on Saturday, August 31, 2019