Michael I. Kotlikoff, V.M.D., Ph.D.
Horace White Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology

Phone

607-253-3336

Address

Department of Biomedical Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine
T4-018 Veterinary Research Tower
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853-2703

Email

Web Sites

Lab Web Site
Department Profile

Research Description

My laboratory focuses on the molecular processes underlying excitation-contraction coupling and rhythmicity in cardiac and smooth muscle cells. Current studies seek to understand the role of specific sarcoplasmic reticular calcium release channels and sarcolemmal ion channels in cellular excitation and relaxation. A major goal of the laboratory is to understand processes of intercellular communication and the generation of spontaneous electrical activity. Techniques used to study these processes include gene targeting, development of in vivo imaging methods using genetically targeted cell sensors, embryonic stem cell engraftment, patch clamp measurements of ion channel function, and in vivo confocal and wide-field imaging.

Current projects in the laboratory include the study of the development of electrical activity in the embryonic heart, the use of embryonic cardiomyocytes and embryonic stem cells to alter electrical rhythm disturbances that occur after cardiac injury, the basis of spontaneous rhythm in smooth muscle tissues, and the development of genetically encoded sensors of cell signaling.

Publications

1. Collier, M.L., G. Ji, Y.-X. Wang, and M.I. Kotlikoff. Calcium-induced calcium release in smooth muscle: Loose coupling between the action potential and calcium release. J Gen Physiol 115:653-62, 2000.
2. Xin, H-B, T Senbonmatsu, D Cheng, Y-X Wang, J Copello, G Ji, ML Collier, K-Y Deng, LH Jeyakumar, MA Magnuson, T Inagami, MI Kotlikoff, and S Fleischer. Estrogen protects FKBP12.6 null mice from cardiac hypertrophy. Nature 416:334-337, 2002. Rishniw, M., J Wilson, and MI Kotlikoff. Skeletal myogenesis in the mouse esophagus does not occur through transdifferentiation. Genesis 36:81-82, 2003. Ji, G, ME Feldman, KS Greene, V Sorrentino, H-B Xin, and MI Kotlikoff. RYR2 proteins contribute to the formation of Ca²⁺ sparks in smooth muscle. J Gen Physiol 123:377-386, 2004. Ji, G. M.E. Feldman, K.-Y. Deng, K.S. Greene, J. Wilson, J.C. Lee, R.C. Johnston, M. Rishniw, Y. Tallini, J. Zhang, W.G. Wier, M.P. Blaustein, H.-B. Xin, J. Nakai and M.I. Kotlikoff. Ca²⁺ -Sensing Transgenic Mice: Postsynaptic Signaling in Smooth Muscle. J Biol Chem 279:21461-21468, 2004. Xin, H-B, KY Deng, B Shui, S Qu, Q Sun, J Lee, KS Greene, J Wilson, M Feldman, and MI Kotlikoff. Gene trap and gene inversion methods for conditional gene inactivation in the mouse. Nucleic Acids Research 33:e14,1-10, 2005. Kotlikoff, MI and NY Tallini. Imaging dynamic cellular events in the lung. J Gen Physiol 125:529-530, 2005. Ji, G, M Feldman, R Doran, W Zipfel, and MI Kotlikoff. Ca²⁺ -induced Ca²⁺ release through localized Ca²⁺ uncaging in smooth muscle. J Gen Physiol 127:225-235, 2006. Tallini, NY, M Ohkura, B-R Choi, G Ji, K Imoto, R Doran, J Lee, P Plan, J Wilson, H-B Xin, A Sanbe, J Gulick, J Robbins, G Salama, J Nakai, and MI Kotlikoff. Imaging Cellular Signals in the Heart in Vivo: Cardiac expression of the high signal Ca²⁺ indicator GCaMP2. Proc Natl Acad Sci, USA 103:4753-4758, 2006. Moo YL, H Song, J Nakai, M Ohkura, MI Kotlikoff, SP Kinsey, VA Golovina, and MP Blaustein. Local, Sub-plasma Membrane Ca²⁺ Signals Detected by a Tethered Ca²⁺ Sensor. Proc Natl Acad Sci, USA 103:13232-13237, 2006. Tallini, YN, Shui, B, Deng, K-Y, Doran, Y, Fisher, P, Zipfel, W, Summers, B, Kotlikoff, MI. BAC Transgenic Mice Express Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein in Central and Peripheral Cholinergic Neurons. Physiol Genomics 27:391-397, 2006. Qu, S, Rinehart, C, Wu, H-H, Wang, SE, Carter, B, X, H-B, Kotlikoff, M, and Arteaga, CL. Gene targeting of ErbB3 using a Cre-mediated unidirectional DNA inversion strategy. Genesis 44:477-486, 2006.
3. Rishniw M, Fisher PW, Doran RM, Meadows E, Klein WH, Kotlikoff MI. Smooth muscle persists in the muscularis externa of developing and adult mouse esophagus. J Muscle Res Cell Motil. 28:153-65, 2007

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