Professionals

Michael Allikian, Ph.D., is a technical specialist with an emphasis on molecular biology.  Dr. Allikian's studies have included the role of the dystrophin associated protein complex on  mammalian and invertebrate systems muscle development and function.  In connection with his research on transmembrane linkages for muscle, Dr. Allikian has authored several reviews dealing with the sarcoglycan complex in skeletal and cardiac muscle. 

Dr. Allikian was a lecturer at the University of Chicago in undergraduate biology in addition to supervising research conducted by junior postdoctoral fellows and undergraduates.  Prior to attending the University of Chicago, he taught upper level undergraduate molecular biology at the University of Southern California.

Publications

Allikian, M.J., and McNally, E.M. (2007). Processing and Assembly of the Dystrophin Glycoprotein Complex. Traffic.

Allikian, M.J., Hack, A.A., Mewborn, S., Mayer, U., and McNally, E.M. (2004). Genetic compensation for sarcoglycan loss by integrin alpha7beta 1 in muscle. J Cell Sci 117, 3821-3830.

Bhole, D., Allikian, M.J., and Tower, J. (2004). Doxycycline-regulated over-expression of hsp22 has negative effects on stress resistance and life span in adult Drosophila melanogaster. Mech Ageing Dev 125, 651-663.

Wheeler, M.T., Allikian, M.J., Heydemann, A., Hadhazy, M., Zarnegar, S., and McNally, E.M. (2004). Smooth muscle cell-extrinsic vascular spasm arises from cardiomyocyte degeneration in sarcoglycan-deficient cardiomyopathy. J Clin Invest 113, 668-675.

McNally, E., Allikian, M., Wheeler, M.T., Mislow, J.M., and Heydemann, A. (2003).Cytoskeletal defects in cardiomyopathy. J Mol Cell Cardiol 35, 231-241.

Allikian, M.J., Deckert-Cruz, D., Rose, M.R., Landis, G.N., and Tower, J. (2002). Doxycycline-induced expression of sense and inverted-repeat constructs modulates phosphogluconate mutase (Pgm) gene expression in adult Drosophila melanogaster.  Genome Biol 3, research0021.

Wheeler, M.T., Allikian, M.J., Heydemann, A., and McNally, E.M. (2002).  The sarcoglycan complex in striated and vascular smooth muscle. Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol 67, 389-397.

Allikian, M., and Tower, J. (2000) [Review]. Drosophila Studies. Encyclopedia of Stress, Ed. G. Fink, Academic Press Vol. 1: 753-55.

NOTEWORTHY

• Pre-doctoral fellow. Training in Endocrinology and Neurobiology of Aging (Dr. Caleb Finch) NIA
• Postdoctoral fellow. Individual National Research Service Award (NRSA), NIH Grant
• Drosophila models to dissect sarcoglycan trafficking and function, MDC Grant