The research of Michael Fill, PhD, explores the local control of intracellular Ca signals mediated by the ryanodine receptor (RyR) Ca release channel in excitable cells. These control mechanisms are fundamental to many cellular phenomena and, thus, are often sites of pathological failure and potential targets for therapeutic intervention.
Fill’s lab at Rush is internationally recognized for its world-class RyR experimental expertise. The Ca signals generated by RyRs are known to modulate a myriad of physiological functions. Our lab details clinically significant structure-function attributes of single RyR function in health and disease, including local RyR control by Ca, closely regulatory proteins and post-translational modifications. This provides a strong mechanistic foundation for our group’s ongoing work toward developing new RyR-targeted drugs that will hopefully be applied to limit/treat diseases exacerbated or caused by hyperactive RyR Ca signaling.
Chen … Fill, et al. “RyR store-sensing gate controls C waves and C-triggered arrhythmias.” Nature Medicine. 20(2): 184-92, 2014.
Zhou … Fill, et al. “Carvedilol and its new analogs suppress arrhythmogenic … Ca release.” Nature Medicine. 10;17(8): 1003-9, 2011.
Fill and Copello. “RyR Ca release channels.” Physiological Reviews. 82(4): 893-922, 2002.
Minn … Fill, et al. “Bcl-xL regulates apoptosis by heterodimerization-dependent and -independent mechanisms.” EMBO Journal. 1;18(3): 632-43, 1999.
Minn, et al. and Fill. “Bcl-x(L) forms an ion channel in synthetic lipid membranes.” Nature. 23;385(6614): 353-7, 1997.
Cheng, Fill et al. “Models of Ca release channel adaptation.”Science. 267(5206): 2009-10, 1995.
Györke and Fill. “Ryanodine receptor adaptation: control mechanism of Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release in heart.” Science. 7;260(5109): 807-9, 1993.
Ma, Fill et al. “Ryanodine receptor of skeletal muscle is a gap junction-type channel.” Science. 7;242(4875): 99-102, 1988.
A more complete listing of Fill’s published work can be found on PubMed.
Fill’s lab has trained 15 postdoctoral fellows and 12 PhD students. Join us.
Michael Fill, PhD
Professor and Chair
Francis N. and Catherine O. Bard Professor of Physiology
Rush University
Department of Physiology & Biophysics
1750 W. Harrison St.
Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: (312) 942-6434
Fax: (312) 942-8711
Email: