Dr. Kenneth Hallows' main research interests are in epithelial ion transport physiology and the coupling of membrane transport processes to cellular metabolism via the metabolic sensor AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Current research projects involve elucidating the mechanisms of epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) regulation by AMPK in kidney and lung epithelia and characterizing the mechanism of altered AMPK regulation and activity in the cystic fibrosis airway and its beneficial role in mitigating the excessive CF inflammatory response.
Publications
Bhalla, V., Oyster, N.M., Fitch, A.C., Wijngaarden, M.A., Neumann, D., Schlattner, U., Pearce, D., and Hallows, K.R. AMP-activated kinase inhibits the epithelial Na+ channel through functional regulation of the ubiquitin ligase Nedd4-2. J. Biol. Chem. 281: 26159-26169, 2006.
Hallows, K.R., Fitch, A.C., Richardson, C.A., Reynolds, P.R., Clancy, J.P., Dagher, P.C., Witters, L.A., Kolls, J.K., and Pilewski, J.M. Upregulation of AMP-activated kinase by dysfunctional CFTR in cystic fibrosis airway epithelial cells mitigates excessive inflammation. J. Biol. Chem. 281: 4231-4241, 2006.
Carattino, M.D., Edinger, R.S., Grieser, H.J., Wise, R., Neumann, D., Schlattner, U., Johnson, J.P., Kleyman, T.R., and Hallows, K.R. Epithelial sodium channel inhibition by AMP-activated protein kinase in oocytes and polarized renal epithelial cells. J. Biol. Chem. 280: 17608-17616, 2005.
Hallows, K.R. Emerging role of AMP-activated protein kinase in coupling membrane transport to cellular metabolism. Curr. Opin. Nephrol. Hypertens. 14: 464-471, 2005.
Hallows, K.R., McCane, J.E., Kemp, B.E., Witters, L.A., and Foskett, J.K. Regulation of channel gating by AMP-activated protein kinase modulates cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator activity in lung submucosal cells. J. Biol. Chem. 278: 998-1004, 2003.
