Mark A. Milanick, PhD
Professor, Department of Medical Pharmacology and PhysiologyOffice Location: 360 Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center
Office Phone: 573-882-8055
MilanickM@missouri.edu
Research Interests
Research Description
Milanick's efforts are devoted to determining how cell membrane proteins transport molecules across the cell surface. Studies are currently focused on three transport systems: the plasma membrane calcium pump, the Na/K pump and zinc transporters. One of the issues in determining the molecular mechanism of transport proteins is to identify the amino acid sequences most important for function. Hypotheses about transporter structure-function relationships can more confidently be tested by engineering changes in protein structure that lead to an operating transporter with novel features than by doing biochemical autopsies on defective transporters. Cells that contain transporters with novel features are identified by a selection procedure that kills all cells that do not express transporters with the novel feature from a population of cells which contain randomly mutated transporter genes. Cells are placed in artificial environments and these stresses kill the cells expressing wild type or inactive transporters. Clearly, a thorough understanding of normal cellular transport physiology is required to design appropriate selection procedures. By learning how transporters adapt to stressful environments, a better understanding of the relationship between structure and function of normal transporters can be gained. This understanding of how the transporter works will elucidate some of the mechanisms for regulation of transport which are important for healthy cell function.
Professional Background
- Obtained BA degree in physics, Swarthmore College.
- Received PhD in biophysics and theoretical biology, University of Chicago.
- Completed National Institutes of Health (NIH)-sponsored postdoctoral fellowship, Yale University.
- Past member of editorial board of The American Journal of Physiology.
- Act as member of the editorial board of The Journal of Membrane Biology.
- Former secretary/treasurer of the Membrane Biophysics Subgroup of the Biophysical Society.
- Former member of the Physiology Study Section of NIH.
- Received NIH Research Career Development Award.
- Funded by theAmerican Heart Association (AHA), and Marion-Merrill Dow, Inc., including 18 years of NIH funding.
- Acts as the principal investigator on NIH translational training grant initiative, "From Clinic to Bench & Back: Training Clinical Biodetectives" (link to: www.clinicalbiodetectives.org).
Selected Publications
- Jennings, M.L. and M.A. Milanick. Membrane transport in single cells. In: Handbook of Physiology: Cell Physiology, J.F. Hoffman, ed. pp. 261-308, 1997.
- Xu, W.-Y., H.Denison, C.C. Hale, C. Gatto, and M.A. Milanick. Identification of critical positive charges in XIP, the Na/Ca exchange inhibitory peptide. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 341:273-279, 1997.
- Xu, W.-Y., B.J. Wilson, L. Huang, E.L. Parkinson, B.J.F. Hill, and M.A. Milanick. Probing the extracellular release site of the plasma membrane calcium pump. AJP - Cell 278:C965-C972, 2000.
- • Ruddock, N.T., Z. Machaty, M. Milanick and R. S. Prather. Mechanism of intracellular pH increase during parthenogenetic activation of in vitro matured porcine oocytes. Biol. Reprod. 63:488-492, 2000.
- MacDiarmid CW, Milanick MA, Eide DJ. Biochemical properties of vacuolar zinc transport systems of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J Biol Chem. 2002 Oct 18;277(42):39187-94.
- Milanick MA, Arnett KL. Extracellular protons regulate the extracellular cation selectivity of the sodium pump.J Gen Physiol. 2002 Oct;120(4):497-508.
- Hoffman JF, Wickrema A, Potapova O, Milanick M, Yingst DR. Na pump isoforms in human erythroid progenitor cells and mature erythrocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Oct 29;99(22):14572-7.
- Millspaugh, J. J., B. E. Washburn, M. A. Milanick, J. Beringer, L. Hansen, and T. Meyer. Noninvasive techniques for stress assessment in white-tailed deer. Wildlife Society Bulletin 30 899–907, 2002.
- MacDiarmid CW, Milanick MA, Eide DJ. Induction of the ZRC1 Metal Tolerance Gene in Zinc-limited Yeast Confers Resistance to Zinc Shock. J Biol Chem. 2003 Apr 25;278(17):15065-72.
- Ruddock NT, Arnett KL, Wilson BJ, Milanick MA. Chloro(2,2':6',2"-terpyridine) platinum inhibition of the renal Na+,K+-ATPase. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2003 Jun;284(6):C1584-92.
- Millspaugh, J. J., B. E. Washburn, M. A. Milanick, R. Slotow and G. van Dyk. Effects of heat and chemical treatments on fecal glucocorticoid measurements: implications for sample transport. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 2003. 31:399-406.
- Helms JB, Arnett KL, Gatto C, Milanick MA. Bretylium, an organic quaternary amine, inhibits the Na,K-ATPase by binding to the extracellular K-site. Blood Cells Mol Dis. 2004 May-Jun;32(3):394-400.