Scientists: Martin A. Smith, Ph.D.

Research Focus

Working to understand: epilepsy, stroke, alzheimers, cognitive disorders, congestive Heart Failure

Scientific Focus: molecular and cell biology of synapse formation, synaptic plasticity and membrane excitability.

Selected/Recent Publications

Publications Listed on PubMed

Hilgenberg LG, Pham B, Ortega M, Walid S, Kemmerly T, O'Dowd DK, Smith MA.
2009. Agrin regulation of alpha 3 sodium potassium ATPase activity modulates cardiac myocyte contraction. J Biol Chem, 2009 Apr 16. [Epub ahead of print].

Chen, K., A. Neu, A. L. Howard, C. Foldy, J. Echegoyen, L. Hilgenberg, M. Smith, K. Mackie, and I. Soltesz.
2007. Prevention of plasticity of endocannabinoid signaling inhibits persistent limbic hyperexcitability caused by developmental seizures. J Neurosci. 27:46-58.

Tan, Z., X. Sun, F. S. Hou, H. W. Oh, L. G. Hilgenberg, E. M. Hol, F. W. van Leeuwen, M. A. Smith, D. K. O'Dowd, and S. S. Schreiber.
2007. Mutant ubiquitin found in Alzheimer's disease causes neuritic beading of mitochondria in association with neuronal degeneration. Cell Death Differ. 14:1721-1732.

Hilgenberg, L.G., Su, H., Gu, H., O'Dowd D. K., and Smith, M.A.
(2006). α3Na+/K+-ATPase is a neuronal receptor for agrin. Cell 125, 359-369.

Hilgenberg, L.G. and M.A. Smith
2004. Agrin signaling in cortical neurons is mediated by a tyrosine kinase-dependent increase in intracellular Ca(2+) that engages both CaMKII and MAPK signal pathways. J. Neurobiol. 61: 289-300.

Hoover, C. L., L. G. W. Hilgenberg, et al.
2003. The COOH-terminal domain of agrin signals via a synaptic receptor in CNS neurons. J. Cell Biol. 161: 923-932.

Hilgenberg, L.G.W., K.D. Ho, D. Lee, D.K. O'Dowd, and M.A. Smith.
2002. Agrin regulates neuronal responses to excitatory neurotransmitters in vitro and in vivo. Mol. Cell. Neurosci. 19:97-110.