Michael D. Schaller, Ph.D.
	Professor and Chair of Biochemistry Graduate Training: McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Fellowship: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
	Office: 3124-HSN Lab: 3111-HSN PO Box 9142 Morgantown, WV 26506	Email: mschaller@hsc.wvu.edu Phone: 304-293-9514 Fax: 304-293-6846

Research Interests:

My major research interests are the signaling events regulated by integrin-dependent cell adhesion. These events regulate important processes like cell proliferation, cell survival and cell migration. We are specifically interested in FAK, the Focal Adhesion Kinase, a key enzyme regulated by integrin-dependent cell adhesion. FAK is critical for embryonic development including angiogenesis during embryogenesis and proper development of the heart. Our current efforts are focused upon determining mechanisms of regulation of FAK and downstream signals in endothelial cells.

Specific projects would center upon the role of phospholipids in regulating conformational change in FAK resulting in its activation, mechanisms controlling FAK activity in endothelial cells during cell adhesion and under shear stress, and the role of FAK in controlling biological responses to shear stress. A number of approaches will be used to perform these projects including biophysical and biochemical approaches to measure ligand interactions with FAK, imaging approaches using a novel biosensor to monitor FAK conformation in live cells, and pharmacological and siRNA approaches to disrupt FAK signaling.

Selected Publications:

1. M.P. Playford, K. Vadali, X. Cai, K. Burridge and M.D. Schaller. 2008. Focal Adhesion Kinase regulates cell-cell contact formation in epithelial cells via modulation of Rho. Experimental Cell Research 314:3187-3194.
   
   
2. D.M. Scheswohl, J.R. Harrell, Z. Rajfur, G. Gao, S.L. Campbell, M.D. Schaller. 2008. Multiple Paxillin Binding Sites Regulate FAK Function. J. Mol. Signaling 3:1.
   
   
3. X. Cai, D. Lietha, D.F. Ceccarelli, A.V. Karginov, Z. Rajfur, K. Jacobson, K.M. Hahn, M.J. Eck, M.D. Schaller. 2008. Spatial and Temporal Regulation of FAK Activity in Living Cells. Mol. Cell. Biol. 28:201-214.
   
   
4. K. Vadali, X. Cai and M.D. Schaller. 2007. Focal Adhesion Kinase: An Essential Kinase in the Regulation of Cardiovascular Functions. IUBMB Life 59:709-716.
   
   
5. M.A. Zayed, W. Yuan, T.M. Leisner, D. Chalothorn, A.W. McFadden, M.D. Schaller, M.E. Hartnett, J.E. Faber, and L.V. Parise. 2007. CIB1 Regulates Endothelial Cells and Ischemia-Induced Pathological and Adaptive Angiogenesis. Circulation Research 101:1185-1193.
   
   
6. D. Lietha, X. Cai, Y. Li, M.D. Schaller, and M.J. Eck. 2007. Structure and regulation of Focal Adhesion Kinase. Cell 129:1177-1187.
   
   
7. X. Cai, M. Li, J. Vrana and M.D. Schaller. 2006. GSK-3- and ERK-Dependent Phosphorylation of Paxillin Regulates Cytoskeletal Rearrangement. Mol. Cell. Biol. 26: 2857–2868.

Lab Personnel:

Wei Fu - Postdoctoral Fellow