Dr. Inder K. Vijay

Professor, Director of Graduate Studies, Animal and Avian Sciences

Phone: 301-405-1407
Email: ivijay@umd.edu

Research Interests:

Our group is interested in the biosynthesis and regulation of asparagine-linked glycoproteins during the growth and differentiation of the mammary gland. Glycoproteins are fundamentally involved in myriad phenomena that are fundamental to biological recognition and function. Numerous pathologies, including atherosclerosis, diabetes, malignancy, emphysema, arthritis, neurodegenerative pathologies and other genetic disorders of metabolism are accompanied by alterations in cellular glycoprotein metabolism. The biosynthesis of the carbohydrate precursor of the major class of these proteins, i.e., the N-linked glycoproteins, involves an ensemble of more than twenty enzymes that act in concert; these enzymes have been conserved throughout evolution. Our laboratory has extensively investigated this machinery and studied several of these enzymes, both at the biochemical and cell molecular- biological level.

Recently, molecular-genetic lesions in several enzymes of protein N-glycosylation have been directly linked with an emerging group of clinically heterogeneous, autosomal recessive diseases known as Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation (CDG). These disorders have grave consequences for the host. Using the mammary gland as the model, the current focus of our laboratory is to try to discover new genes in the pathway that are likely to be defective in CDGs that remain to be discovered. This will also help us further investigate the regulation of protein glycosylation in the mammary gland as it cycles between growth and differentiation from dormancy -> gestation -> lactation -> post-lactational regression.

Awards and Honors:
- Research Career Development Award, N.I.H. 1978-1983
- Senior Fellow, National Research Service Award, N.I.H. 1985
- Distinguished Faculty Research Fellow, Univ. Maryland 1990
- Lloyd Harris Scientist Lecturer, Univ. Oklahoma 1992
- Distinguished Alumnus, N.D.R.I., India 2000