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Faculty Detail     Name MICHAEL A MILLER   Campus Address THT 952 Zip 0006 Phone 205-996-2096 E-mail mamiller@uab.edu Other websites http://www.mamillerlab.com

Faculty Appointment(s) Appointment Type Department Division Rank Primary  Cell, Developmntl, & Integrative Biology  Cell, Developmntl, & Integrative Biology Professor Secondary  OB/GYN   OB/GYN Chair Office Assistant Professor Center  Comprehensive Cancer Center  Comprehensive Cancer Center Professor

Graduate Biomedical Sciences Affiliations Cancer Biology  Cell, Molecular, & Developmental Biology  Cellular and Molecular Biology Program  Genetics and Genomic Sciences  Medical Scientist Training Program

Biographical Sketch  Michael A. Miller (b. 1971) received his Ph.D. in 1999 from the University of California at Irvine in the Department of Biological Chemistry. His postdoctoral training was done in David Greenstein’s lab at Vanderbilt University in the Department of Cell & Developmental Biology. He joined the UAB Department of Cell Biology in 2003 and was appointed to Associate Professor with tenure in 2009.

Research/Clinical Interest Title Function and evolution of intercellular communication mechanisms Description Multicellular organisms depend on intercellular communication or signaling mechanisms to coordinate the movement, differentiation, and proliferation of their cells. In humans, aberrant regulation of cell communication is the basis for many types of cancer, inflammatory disease, neurological disease, and infertility. Studies of distantly related animals are consistent with the hypothesis that a core, but incompletely discovered set of signaling mechanisms is used reiteratively during development to control basic cellular functions. We primarily use the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a simple in vivo model for discovering fundamental signaling mechanisms and elucidating their mechanisms of action. Our current focus is on two hormone classes critical for reproduction, lipid hormones called prostaglandins and protein hormones called MSPs. These two hormones mediate communication between sperm and egg that controls sperm motility and oocyte meiotic maturation, respectively. Prostaglandins are the targets of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen. MSPs comprise a recently discovered, widespread class that bind to Eph receptors and other receptors. The human genome encodes fourteen Eph receptors, which are broadly expressed and implicated in vascular development, stem cell proliferation, nervous system functions, and oncogenesis. A point mutation in the VAPB MSP domain causes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and late-onset spinal muscular atrophy, two neurodegenerative disorders. Research projects aim to discover biological roles of MSPs and prostaglandins, to determine how these hormones function, and to investigate their evolutionary origins.

Selected Publications  Publication PUBMEDID Han, S. M., Tsuda, H., Yang, Y., Vibbert, J., Cottee, P., Lee, S., Winek, J., Haueter, C., Bellen, H. J., and Miller, M. A. 2012. Secreted VAPB/ALS8 major sperm protein domains modulate mitochondrial localization and morphology via growth cone guidance receptors. Developmental Cell, 22:348-263. Cover article. Preview by Long and Van Vactor (pgs. 238-239). Featured in Birmingham News (front page), National Public Radio (WCUR Up to Date), New Scientist, and Alzheimer Research Forum. Evaluated in F1000.   22264801  Edmonds, J. W., McKinney, S., Prasain, J. K., and Miller, M. A. (2011). The Gap Junctional Protein INX-14 Functions in Oocyte Precursors to Promote C. elegans Sperm Guidance. Developmental Biology, 359: 47-58.   21889935   Edmonds, J. W., Prasain, J. K., Dorand, D., Yang, Y., Hoang, H., Vibbert, J., Kubagawa, H. M., and Miller, M. A. (2010). Insulin/FOXO Signaling Regulates Ovarian Prostaglandins Critical for Reproduction. Developmental Cell, 19:858-71. Reviewed by Faculty of 1000.  21145501  Yang, Y., Han, S. M., and Miller, M. A. (2010). MSP Hormonal Control of the Oocyte MAP Kinase Cascade and Reactive Oxygen Species Signaling. Developmental Biology, 342:96-107.  20380830  Han, S. M., Cottee, P., and Miller, M. A. (2010). Sperm and oocyte communication mechanisms controlling C. elegans fertility. Developmental Dynamics, 239:1265-81.  20034089   Tsuda, H., Han, S. M., Yang, Y., Tong, C., Lin, Q. L., Mohan, K., Haueter, C., Zoghbi, A., Harati, Y., Kwan, J., Miller, M. A., and Bellen, H. J. (2008). The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 8 protein VAPB is cleaved, secreted, and acts as a ligand for Eph receptors. Cell, 133:963-77. On the cover. Preview by Ackerman and Cox. Reviewed by Faculty of 1000.  18555774  Kubagawa, H., Watts, J., Corrigan, C., Edmonds, J., Sztul, E., Browse, J., and Miller, M. A. (2006). Oocyte signals derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids control sperm recruitment in vivo. Nature Cell Biology, 8:1143-1148.  On the Cover. Featured in Nature Research Highlights, Oct. 12 issue.  16998478  Whitten, S. and Miller, M. A. (2007). The role of gap junctions in Caenorhabditis elegans oocyte meiotic maturation and fertilization. Developmental Biology, 301:432-446.   16982048  Corrigan, C., Subramanian, R., and Miller, M. A. (2005). Eph and NMDA receptors control Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II activation during C. elegans oocyte meiotic maturation. Development, 132: 5225-5237.  16267094  Miller, M. A., Cutter, A. D., Yamamoto, I., Ward, S. and Greenstein, D. (2004). Clustered organization of reproductive genes in the C. elegans genome. Current Biology, 14: 1284-1290.  15268860  First Prev   1 2 of  2  Next Last

Keywords signal transduction, development, C. elegans, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, nervous system, energy metabolism

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