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SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Research: Project
2026-04-29 Cilia ATP graphical abstract v4 (1).png

2026

Compartmentalized glycolysis powers ATP production in primary cilia and engages mitochondria via the phosphoenolpyruvate cycle

Huang SM, Foster HR, Lee EY, Jo JH, Dong X, Cho BK, Goo YA, Hughes JW, and Merrins MJ.

Biorxiv.

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2026

Compartmentalized Nutrient and Hormone Sensing in β-Cells: the Role of Primary Cilia

Hughes JW and Merrins MJ.

American Journal of Physiology.

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2026

Amino Acid Sensing by the α-Cell Mitochondrial Phosphoenolpyruvate Cycle Regulates Intracellular Ca2+ Levels Without Affecting Glucagon Secretion

Jin E, Foster HR, Potapenko E, Huang SM, Dong X, Hughes JW, and Merrins MJ.

Diabetes.

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2025

Glucokinase activity controls peripherally located subpopulations of β-cells that lead islet Ca2+ oscillations

Jin E, Briggs JK, Benninger RKP, and Merrins MJ.

Elife.

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2024

Leucine Suppresses α-Cell cAMP and Glucagon Secretion via a Combination of Cell-Intrinsic and Islet Paracrine Signaling

Knuth ER, Foster HR, Jin E, Ekstrand MH, Knudsen JG, and Merrins MJ.

Diabetes.

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2023

Glucose Regulation of β-Cell KATP Channels: It Is Time for a New Model!

Merrins MJ and Kibbey RG.

Diabetes.

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2023

A plasma membrane-associated glycolytic metabolon is functionally coupled to KATP channels in pancreatic α and β cells from humans and mice

Ho T, Potapenko E, Davis DB, and Merrins MJ.

Cell Reports.

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2022

Metabolic cycles and signals for insulin secretion

Merrins MJ, Corkey BE, Kibbey RG, and Prentki M.

Cell Metabolism.

Figure 1 PK isoform paper - Figure Set_2022-07-29_Page_1_edited.jpg

2022

β-cell deletion of the PKm1 and PKm2 isoforms of pyruvate kinase in mice reveals their essential role as nutrient sensors for the KATP channel

Foster HR, Ho T, Potapenko E, Sdao SM, Huang SM, Lewandowski SL, VanDeusen HR, Davidson SM, Cardone RL, Prentki M, Kibbey RG, and Merrins MJ.

Elife.

2022

β Cell-specific deletion of Zfp148 improves nutrient-stimulated β cell Ca2+ responses

Emfinger CH, de KlerK E, Schueler KL, Rabaglia ME, Stapleton DS, Simonett SP, Mitok KA, Wang Z, Liu X, Paulo JA, Yu Q, Cardone RL, Foster HR, Lewandowski SL, Perales JC, Kendziorski CM, Gygi SP, Kibbey RG, Keller MP, Hebrok M, Merrins MJ*, and Attie AD*.

JCI Insight.

CDK2 Sdao graphical abstract.PNG

2021

CDK2 limits the highly energetic secretory program of mature β cells by restricting PEP cycle-dependent KATP channel closure

Foster HR, Ho T, Potapenko E, Sdao SM, Huang SM, Lewandowski SL, VanDeusen HR, Davidson SM, Cardone RL, Prentki M, Kibbey RG, and Merrins MJ.

Cell Reports.

Basal Hyperinsulinemia v03 (1).png

2021

What Regulates Basal Insulin Secretion and Causes Hyperinsulinemia?

Corkey BE, Deeney JT, and Merrins MJ.

Diabetes.

Lewandowski%20Graphical%20Abstract_edite

2020

Pyruvate Kinase Controls Signal Strength
in the Insulin Secretory Pathway

Lewandowski SL, Cardone RL, Foster HR, Ho T, Potapenko E, Poudel C, VanDeusen HR, Sdao SM, Alves TC, Zhao X, Capozzi ME, De Souza AH, Jahan I, Nunemaker CS, Davis DB, Campbell JE, Kibbey RG, and Merrins MJ.

Cell Metabolism.

EduFRET%252520Microscope_edited_edited_e

2020

Designing a Compact, Low-Cost FRET Microscopy Platform for the Undergraduate Classroom

Rupel JW, Sdao SM, Johnston KE, Nethery ET, Gabardi KA, Ratliff BA, Simmons BJ, Postlewaite JT, Kita AM, Rogers JD, and Merrins MJ.​

The Biophysicist.

Phasor plot.PNG

2019

Obesity-Dependent CDK1 Signaling Stimulates Mitochondrial Respiration at Complex I in Pancreatic β-cells

Gregg T†, Sdao SM†, Dhillon RS, Rensvold JW, Lewandowski SL, Pagliarini DJ, Denu JM, and Merrins MJ.​

The Journal of Biological Chemistry.

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2018

Age-Dependent Protection of Insulin Secretion
in Diet Induced Obese Mice

De Leon ER, Gregg TA, Brinkman J, Fenske RJ, Schmidt BA, Kimple ME, Lamming DW*, and Merrins MJ*.

Scientific Reports.

PET imaging.PNG

2017

Radiomanganese PET Detects Changes in Functional β-cell Mass in Mouse Models of Diabetes

Hernandez R†, Graves SA†, Gregg T, VanDeusen HR, Fenske RJ, Wienkes HN, England CG, Valdovinos HF, Jeffery JJ, Barnhart TE, Severin GW, Nickles RJ, Kimple ME, Merrins MJ*, Cai W*.

Diabetes.

Gregg Diabetes_edited.png

2016

Pancreatic β-cells From Mice Offset Age-Associated Mitochondrial Deficiency With Reduced KATP Channel Activity.

Gregg T†, Poudel C†, Schmidt BA, Dhillon RS, Sdao SM, Truchan NA, Baar EL, Fernandez LA, Denu JM, Eliceiri KW, Rogers JD, Kimple ME, Lamming DW*, Merrins MJ*.​

Diabetes.

Laboratory of Matthew J. Merrins, PhD

Yale School of Medicine

©Merrins Lab

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