Faculty and Staff

Marco Brotto, BSN, MS, PhD - Associate Professor

Marco Brotto

Phone: 816.235.1959

Email: brottom@umkc.edu

CV: BrottoM.pdf

Biography: Dr. Brotto's research focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular basis of the excitation-contraction coupling process in skeletal and cardiac muscles. Two areas of his research are specifically devoted to an in-depth understanding of muscle fatigue and muscle aging. Dr. Brotto utilizes a multidisciplinary approach in his research efforts and uses a number of knockout and transgenic animals to achieve his goals.

What drew me to the area of muscle physiology research was my childhood. Growing up among teachers, professors and inventors was a special gift and ever since I was child I became interested in how muscles worked. Later in life my interest in muscles became focused on how to improve human health, because healthier muscles always translate into healthier

Recent Publications:

  • Zhao X, Weisleder N, Thornton A, Oppong Y, Campbell R, Ma J, Brotto M. Compromised store-operated Ca2+ entry in aged skeletal muscle. Aging Cell. 2008 Aug;7(4):561-8.
  • Brotto, M, Weisleder, N; Ma, J. Store-operated Calcium Entry in Muscle Physiology. Current Chemical Biology, 1, 87-95, 2007, Invited Review
  • Zhao X, Weisleder N, Han X, Pan Z, Parness J, Brotto M, Ma J. Azumolene inhibits a component of store-operated calcium entry coupled to the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor. J Biol Chem. 2006 Nov 3;281(44):33477-86.
  • Brotto M, Weisleder N, Komazaki S, Pan Z, Zhao X, Nosek T, Parness J, Takeshima H, Ma J. Muscle aging is associated with compromised Ca2+ spark signaling and segregated intracellular Ca2+ release. J Cell Biol. 2006 Aug 28;174(5):639-45.
  • Brotto M, Hirata Y, Weisleder N, Chu Y, Lin P, Zhao X, Thornton A, Komazaki S, Takeshima H, Ma J, Pan Z. Uncoupling store-operated Ca2+ entry and altered Ca2+ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum through silencing of junctophilin genes. Biophys J. 2006 Jun 15;90(12):4418-27.
  • Brotto M, Biesiadecki BJ, Brotto LS, Nosek TM, Jin JP. Coupled expression of troponin T and troponin I isoforms in single skeletal muscle fibers correlates with contractility. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2006 Feb;290(2):C567-76.



    • Grants:

  • UMKC School of Nursing Startup Grant, 09/2007-08/2010 (Marco Brotto)
  • American Heart Association (National, Scientist Development Grant), Store Operated Ca Entry and Muscle Fatigue, 102005 - 09/2009 (Marco Brotto)
  • NIH-National Cancer Institute-TREC Pilot Grant: The metabolic and contractile influence of MIP14, a novel muscle specific phosphatase in skeletal muscles Co-Principal Investigator with Dr. Thomas Nosek (CWRU). 10/2007-09/2008 (Marco Brotto)
  • National Institutes of Aging, RO1, "Ca sparks signaling in muscle aging and dystrophy", 07/2006-06/2011 (Co-Investigator with Dr. Jianjie Ma)
  • UMKC-School of Nursing Women’s Health Initiative, Role of PEPCK in Females’ Performance and Diseases, 03/2008-02/2010, (Co-Investigator with Dr. Tina Hines)



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