Michael J. Morales PhD
Michael J. Morales
PhD
Research Associate Professor
Department of Physiology and Biophysics
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Education and Training:
- PhD, Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas (1990)
- BA, Kalamazoo College (1980)
Employment:
- Research Associate, Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center (1993–1999)
- Post Doctoral Fellow, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University School of Medicine (1990–1993)
- Research Technician, Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas (1982–1984)
- Research Technician, Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas (1981–1982)
Journal Articles:
- DeSimone CV, Lu Y, Bondarenko VE, Morales MJ. (2009) S3b amino acid substitutions and ancillary subunits alter the affinity of Heteropoda venatoria toxin 2 for Kv4.3. Mol Pharmacol (Jul), 76(1): 125-133.
- Han S, Mueller C, Wuebbolt C, Kilcullen S, Nayyar V, Calle Gonzalez B, Mahdavi Fard A, Floss JC, Morales MJ, Patel SP. (2023) Selective effects of estradiol on human corneal endothelial cells. Scientific reports (Sep), 13(1): 15279. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-42290-z
- Murlanova K, Jouroukhin Y, Novototskaya-Vlasova K, Huseynov S, Pletnikova O, Morales MJ, Guan Y, Kamiya A, Bergles DE, Dietz DM, Pletnikov MV. (2023) Loss of Astrocytic µ Opioid Receptors Exacerbates Aversion Associated with Morphine Withdrawal in Mice: Role of Mitochondrial Respiration. Cells (May), 12(10). doi:10.3390/cells12101412
- Han S, Mueller C, Wuebbolt C, Kilcullen S, Nayyar V, Gonzalez BC, Fard AM, Floss JC, Morales MJ, Patel SP. (2023) Selective effects of estradiol on human corneal endothelial cells. bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology (Apr). doi:10.1101/2023.04.27.538629
- Murlanova K, Jouroukhin Y, Huseynov S, Pletnikova O, Morales MJ, Guan Y, Baraban JM, Bergles DE, Pletnikov MV. (2022) Deficient mitochondrial respiration in astrocytes impairs trace fear conditioning and increases naloxone-precipitated aversion in morphine-dependent mice. Glia (Mar).
- Maly IV, Morales MJ, Pletnikov MV. (2021) Astrocyte Bioenergetics and Major Psychiatric Disorders. Advances in neurobiology (Jan), 26: 173-227.
- Sekera ER, Rudolph HL, Carro SD, Morales MJ, Bett GCL, Rasmusson RL, Wood TD. (2017) Depletion of Stercobilin in Fecal Matter from a Mouse Model of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Metabolomics (Nov), 13(11).
- Bett GC, Kaplan AD, Lis A, Cimato TR, Tzanakakis ES, Zhou Q, Morales MJ, Rasmusson RL. (2013) Electronic "expression" of the inward rectifier in cardiocytes derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells. Heart Rhythm (Dec), 10(12): 1903-1910.
- Bett GC, Kaplan AD, Lis A, Cimato TR, Tzanakakis ES, Zhou Q, Morales MJ, Rasmusson RL. (2013) Electronic "Expression" of the Inward Rectifier in Cardiocytes Derived from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Heart Rhythm (Sep).
- DeSimone CV, Zarayskiy VV, Bondarenko VE, Morales MJ. (2011) Heteropoda toxin 2 interaction with Kv4.3 and Kv4.1 reveals differences in gating modification. Mol Pharmacol (Aug), 80(2): 345-355.
- Liu J, Kim KH, London B, Morales MJ, Backx PH. (2011) Dissection of the voltage-activated potassium outward currents in adult mouse ventricular myocytes: Ito,f, Ito,s, IK,slow1, IK,slow2, and Iss. Basic Res Cardiol (Mar), 106(2): 189-204.
- Brahmajothi MV, Morales MJ, Campbell DL, Steenbergen C, Strauss HC. (2010) Expression and distribution of voltage-gated ion channels in ferret sinoatrial node. Physiol Genomics (Oct), 42A(2): 131-140.
- Xie C, Bondarenko VE, Morales MJ, Strauss HC. (2009) Closed-state inactivation in Kv4.3 isoforms is differentially modulated by protein kinase C. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol (Nov), 297(5): 1236-1248.
- Posokhov YO, Gottlieb PA, Morales MJ, Sachs F, Ladokhin AS. (2007) Is lipid bilayer binding a common property of inhibitor cysteine knot ion-channel blockers?. Biophys J (Aug), 93(4): 20-22.
- Qu YJ, Bondarenko VE, Xie C, Wang S, Awayda MS, Strauss HC, Morales MJ. (2007) W-7 modulates Kv4.3: pore block and Ca2+-calmodulin inhibition. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol (May), 292(5): 2364-2377.
- Li HL, Qu YJ, Lu YC, Bondarenko VE, Wang S, Skerrett IM, Morales MJ. (2006) DPP10 is an inactivation modulatory protein of Kv4.3 and Kv1.4. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol (Nov), 291(5): 966-976.
- Bett GC, Morales MJ, Beahm DL, Duffey ME, Rasmusson R. (2006) Ancillary subunits and stimulation frequency determine the potency of chromanol 293B block of the KCNQ1 potassium channel. J Physiol (Nov), 576(Pt 3): 755-767.
- Wang S, Bondarenko VE, Qu YJ, Bett GC, Morales MJ, Rasmusson R, Strauss H. (2005) Time- and voltage-dependent components of Kv4.3 inactivation. Biophys J (Nov), 89(5): 3026-3041.
- Zarayskiy VV, Balasubramanian G, Bondarenko VE, Morales MJ. (2005) Heteropoda toxin 2 is a gating modifier toxin specific for voltage-gated K+ channels of the Kv4 family. Toxicon (Mar), 45(4): 431-442.
- Wang S, Bondarenko VE, Morales MJ, Strauss H, Rasmusson R. (2004) Activation properties of Kv4.3 channels: time, voltage and [K+]o dependence. J Physiol (Jun), 557(Pt 3): 705-717.
- Li X, Bett GC, Jiang X, Bondarenko VE, Morales MJ, Rasmusson RL. (2003) Regulation of N- and C-type inactivation of Kv1.4 by pHo and K+: evidence for transmembrane communication. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol (Jan), 284(1): 71-80.
- Li X, Bett GC, Jiang X, Bondarenko VE, Morales MJ, Rasmusson RL. (2003) Regulation of N- and C-type inactivation of Kv1.4 by pHo and K+: evidence for transmembrane communication. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol (Jan), 284(1): 71-80.
- Wang S, Patel SP, Qu Y, Hua P, Strauss HC, Morales MJ. (2002) Kinetic properties of Kv4.3 and their modulation by KChIP2b. Biochem Biophys Res Commun (Jul), 295(2): 223-229.
- Patel SP, Campbell DL, Morales MJ, Strauss HC. (2002) Heterogeneous expression of KChIP2 isoforms in the ferret heart. Journal of Physiology (Mar), 539(Pt 3): 649-656.
- Brahmajothi MV, Campbell DL, Rasmusson R, Morales MJ, Trimmer JS, Nerbonne JM, Strauss H. (1999) Distinct transient outward potassium current (Ito) phenotypes and distribution of fast-inactivating potassium channel alpha subunits in ferret left ventricular myocytes. J Gen Physiol (Apr), 113(4): 581-600.
- Rasmusson R, Morales MJ, Wang S, Liu S, Campbell DL, Brahmajothi MV, Strauss H. (1998) Inactivation of voltage-gated cardiac K+ channels. Circ Res (Apr), 82(7): 739-750.
- Wang S, Morales MJ, Liu S, Strauss HC, Rasmusson R. (1997) Modulation of HERG affinity for E-4031 by [K+]o and C-type inactivation. FEBS Lett (Nov), 417(1): 43-47.
- Wang S, Liu S, Morales MJ, Strauss HC, Rasmusson RL, Strauss H. (1997) A quantitative analysis of the activation and inactivation kinetics of HERG expressed in Xenopus oocytes. J Physiol (Jul), 502 (: 45-60.
- Brahmajothi MV, Morales MJ, Reimer KA, Strauss H. (1997) Regional localization of ERG, the channel protein responsible for the rapid component of the delayed rectifier, K+ current in the ferret heart. Circ Res (Jul), 81(1): 128-135.
- Brahmajothi MV, Morales MJ, Rasmusson RL, Campbell DL, Strauss HC, Strauss H. (1997) Heterogeneity in K+ channel transcript expression detected in isolated ferret cardiac myocytes. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol (Feb), 20(2 Pt): 388-396.
- Rasmusson RL, Wang S, Castellino RC, Morales MJ, Strauss HC, Strauss H. (1997) The ß subunit, Kvß1.2, acts as a rapid open channel blocker of NH2-terminal deleted Kv1.4 α-subunits. Adv Exp Med Biol (Jan), 430: 29-37.
- Morales MJ, Wee JO, Wang S, Strauss HC, Rasmusson RL. (1996) The N-terminal domain of a K+ channel ß subunit increases the rate of C-type inactivation from the cytoplasmic side of the channel. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (Dec), 93(26): 15119-15123.
- Wang S, Morales MJ, Liu S, Strauss HC, Rasmusson RL, Strauss H. (1996) Time, voltage and ionic concentration dependence of rectification of h-erg expressed in Xenopus oocytes. FEBS Lett (Jul), 389(2): 167-173.
- Brahmajothi MV, Morales MJ, Liu S, Rasmusson RL, Campbell DL, Strauss HC, Strauss H. (1996) In situ hybridization reveals extensive diversity of K+ channel mRNA in isolated ferret cardiac myocytes. Circ Res (Jun), 78(6): 1083-1089.
- Groom KR, Dang YL, Gao GJ, Lou YC, Martin NC, Wise CA, Morales MJ. (1996) Genetic and biochemical approaches for analysis of mitochondrial RNase P from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Methods Enzymol (Jan), 264: 86-99.
- Rasmusson R, Morales MJ, Castellino RC, Zhang Y, Campbell DL, Strauss H. (1995) C-type inactivation controls recovery in a fast inactivating cardiac K+ channel (Kv1.4) expressed in Xenopus oocytes. J Physiol (Dec), 489 (: 709-721.
- Castellino RC, Morales MJ, Strauss HC, Rasmusson RL, Strauss H. (1995) Time- and voltage-dependent modulation of a Kv1.4 channel by a ß-subunit (Kvß3) cloned from ferret ventricle. Am J Physiol (Jul), 269(1 Pt): 385-391.
- Morales MJ, Castellino RC, Crews AL, Rasmusson RL, Strauss HC, Strauss H. (1995) A novel ß subunit increases rate of inactivation of specific voltage-gated potassium channel α subunits. J Biol Chem (Mar), 270(11): 6272-6277.
- Rasmusson RL, Zhang Y, Campbell DL, Comer MB, Castellino RC, Liu S, Morales MJ, Strauss HC, Strauss H. (1995) Molecular mechanisms of K+ channel blockade: 4-aminopyridine interaction with a cloned cardiac transient K+ (Kv1.4) channel. Adv Exp Med Biol (Jan), 382: 11-22.
- Comer MB, Campbell DL, Lamson DR, Morales MJ, Zhang Y, Strauss H, Rasmusson R. (1994) Cloning and characterization of an Ito-like potassium channel from ferret ventricle. Am J Physiol (Oct), 267(4 Pt): 1383-1395.
- Morales MJ, Gottlieb DI. (1993) A polymerase chain reaction-based method for detection and quantification of reporter gene expression in transient transfection assays. Anal Biochem (Apr), 210(1): 188-194.
- Morales MJ, Dang YL, Lou YC, Sulo P, Martin NC. (1992) A 105-kDa protein is required for yeast mitochondrial RNase P activity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (Oct), 89(20): 9875-9879.
- Morales MJ, Wise CA, Hollingsworth MJ, Martin NC. (1989) Characterization of yeast mitochondrial RNase P: an intact RNA subunit is not essential for activity in vitro. Nucleic Acids Res (Sep), 17(17): 6865-6881.
- Ellis SR, Morales MJ, Li JM, Hopper AK, Martin NC. (1986) Isolation and characterization of the TRM1 locus, a gene essential for the N2,N2-dimethylguanosine modification of both mitochondrial and cytoplasmic tRNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J Biol Chem (Jul), 261(21): 9703-9709.
Books and Book Chapters:
- Morales MJ, Brahmajothi MV, Campbell DL, Strauss H. (2001) Potassium Channels in Cardiovascular Biology. In: Molecular methods for evaluation of K channel expression and distribution in the heart. Kluwar Academic/Plenum Publishers, 103-118.
- Strauss H, Morales MJ, Brahmajothi MV, Campbell DL. (2000) Heart Physiology and Pathophysiology, 4th edition. In: Voltage-dependent K+ channels. Academic Press, 259-280.
- Morales MJ, Rasmusson RL, Castellino RC, Crews AL, Zhang Y, Johnson LG, Lamson DR, Liu S, Comer MB, Strauss H. (1995) Potassium Channels in Normal and Pathological Conditions. In: Molecular biology and physiology of a cardiac voltage-gated K+ channel ß subunit. Leuven University Press, 205-208.
- Wise CA, Harris EE, Morales MJ, Shu HH, Martin NC. (1990) Proceedings Of Structure, Function And Expression of Energy Transfer Systems. In: Structure and function in yeast mitochondrial RNase P RNAs. Elsevier Science Publishers, 215-218.
- Chen JY, Hollingsworth MJ, Morales MJ, Wise CA, Shu HH, Clark RJ, Caudle DL, Zassenhaus HP, Martin NC. (1988) Genetics of Translation: New Approaches. In: Identification and characterization of mitochondrial and nuclear gene products and genes necessary for mitochondrial tRNA biosynthesis in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae . Springer-Verlag, 223-233. - Najarian D, Ellis S, Dihanich M, Morales MJ, Hopper A, Martin NC. (1986) Yeast Cell Biology. In: Do mitochondria and nuclei share transfer RNA modification enzymes?. Alan R. Liss, 613-622.
Abstracts:
- Bett GC, Duffey ME, Beahm Dl, Katzer M, Morales MJ, Rasmusson RL. (2005) Ancillary subunits modulate block of KCNQ1 channels by chromanol and Ba2+. Proceedings of the 35th Meeting of the International Union of Physiological Sciences, (Jan)
- Bett GC, Morales M, Rasmusson R. (2005) KChlP2b modulates the affinity and use-dependent block of Kv4.3 by Nifedipine. Biophys J, (Jan)
- Bett GC, Li XY, Morales MJ, Bondarenko VE, Rasmusson RL, Jiang XJ. (2003) Transmembrane communication in cardiac potassium channels: regulation of N-and C-type inactivation by pHo and potassium in normal and mutant Kv1.4 channels. Biophys J, (Jan) 76A
- Bett GC, Wang S, Morales M, Qu YJ, Rasmusson RL, Strauss HC. (2002) Kv1.4 Channel Block by quinidine: evidence for a drug-induced allosteric effect. Proceedings of the 12th Meeting of Upstate New York Cardiac Electrophysiology Society, Buffalo, NY, (Jan)
Professional Memberships:
- American Heart Association
- American Physiological Society
- Biophysical Society
Service Activities:
- Rewriting Policy to conform to Well Beyond Curriculum; Chairman of the Academic Status Policy and Student Affairs Committee (2024–present)
- Served on Exam committees for Bianca Quade, Clayton Brady, David Tang, Stephen Thompson and Emily Hudson; Graduate Thesis Exam Committees (2022–2024)
- Phase I Biostatistics and Epidemiology Curriculum Task Force (2021–2022)
- “Preventative and Lifestyle Medicine” curriculum thread. In charge of integrating education activities concerning preventative and lifestyle medicine into all phases of the medical curriculum; Director (2021–2023)
- Represent the Jacobs School at meetings held 3 times per month while school is in session.; Executive Committee (2020–2022)
- Represent the Jacobs School at monthly meetings.; Member (2020–2022)
- Medical Curriculum Committee (2018–present)
- Phase 1 curriculum sub-committee (2018–present)
- Faculty Advisor for the Association of Premedical Students; Faculty Advisor (2014–present)
- Edit Step 1 practice exam questions and entries into an on-line preparatory text; Faculty Advisor, Endocrinology for ScholarRx USMLE STEP preparation program.