University of Pittsburgh

Martin C. Schmidt, PhD

Professor





	
	


			

		Dr. Martin Schmidt	
		

		

	
Contact

    		

		mcs2@pitt.edu	
		

		
			

		412-648-9243	
		

		
	
	
			

		Fax: 
		412-624-1401	
		

	    

    
    
   
    
   
    
    		

		
521 Bridgeside Point II
450 Technology Drive
	
		

	    
    
   
   
   
   
   
   
    
    
	
	
	
			

		Pittsburgh, PA 15219-3143	
		

		
		
	



	
Education
	
	

	
PhD in Biochemistry, University of California, Berkeley
        

              
   
  
 
 	
Research Summary
	
	

	
My lab uses baker’s yeast as its model system to study glucose sensing and signal transduction. We have focused on the regulation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) known as Snf1 in yeast. In both yeast and human cells, the overall structure of AMPK and the modes of regulation are highly conserved. The speed and synergy of genetic and biochemical studies in yeast make this an ideal system to dissect the regulation of AMPK and apply the new knowledge to human biology. We have found that yeast AMPK regulates glucose transport by controlling which glucose transporters are maintained on the plasma membrane. We are investigating the molecular mechanism by which yeast AMPK controls the localization, function and expression of glucose transporters. In addition we have discovered a novel mechanism by which the glucose analog, 2-deoxyglucose, inhibits glucose metabolism. Yeast and cancer cells share a metabolic strategy called aerobic glycolysis that makes them extra sensitive to 2-deoxyglucose. We are using new genomic technologies to define the mechanism by which cells acquire resistance to this compound. The AMPK enzyme exists in different forms called isozymes. In humans, the AMPK isozymes respond differently to pharmacological agents. We are investigating how the yeast AMPK isozymes differ functionally and mechanistically.
 
	
	




  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
         
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
 
 
   
   
















        









	
Research Lab Affiliation
	
	

	Schmidt Lab	
	













	
Publications
	
	

	
McCartney RR; Garnar-Wortzel L; Chandrashekarappa DG and Schmidt MC. (2016) Activation and inhibition of Snf1 kinase activity by phosphorylation within the activation loop. Biochim Biophys Acta. 11: 1518-1528. |  View Abstract
Chandrashkarappa DG; McCartney RR; O'Donnell AF and Schmidt MC. (2016) The beta subunit of yeast AMP-activated protein kinase directs substrate specificity in response to alkaline stress. Cell Signal. 28: 1881-1893. |  View Abstract
O'Donnell AF, McCartney RR, Chandrashekarappa DG, Zhang BB, Thorner J, Schmidt MC. (2015) 2-Deoxyglucose Impairs Saccharomyces cerevisiae Growth by Stimulating Snf1-Regulated and alpha-Arrestin-Mediated Trafficking of Hexose Transporters 1 and 3. Mol Cell Biol. 35:939-55. |  View Abstract
McCartney RR, Chandrashekarappa DG, Zhang BB, Schmidt MC. (2014) Genetic analysis of resistance and sensitivity to 2-deoxyglucose in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Genetics. 198:635-46. |  View Abstract
Chandrashekarappa, D. G; McCartney, R. R; and Schmidt, M. C. (2013) Ligand binding to the AMP-activated protein kinase active site mediates protection of the activation loop from dephosphorylation. J Biol Chem. 288: 89-98. |  View Abstract
Mayer, F. V; Heath, R; Underwood, E; Sanders, M. J; Carmena, D; McCartney, R. R; Leiper, F. C; Xiao, B; Jing, C; Walker, P. A; Haire, L. F; Ogrodowicz, R; Martin, S. R; Schmidt, M. C; Gamblin, S. J; and Carling, D. (2011) ADP regulates SNF1, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae homologue of AMP-activated protein kinase. Cell Metab. 14: 707-714. |  View Abstract
Rubenstein, E. M; McCartney, R. R; Zhang, C; Shokat, K. M; Shirra, M. K; Arndt, K. M; and Schmidt, M. C. (2008 ) Access Denied: Snf1 Activation Loop Phosphorylation is Controlled by Availability of the Phosphorylated Threonine 210 to the PP1 Phosphatase. J Biol Chem. 283: 222-230.

 |  View Abstract