Gregory J. Morton, PhD
Title:
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition
Email Address:
Background:
PhD, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
Fellowship, University of Washington, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Seattle, Washington
Focus:
Dr. Morton's research focuses on studying the role of the brain in the regulation of energy balance and glucose metabolism. Specifically, his research centers on the action of the adiposity signals, insulin and leptin in the hypothalamus and examines the mechanisms and pathways by which they mediate their effects on food intake, body weight and peripheral insulin sensitivity using physiological, molecular biological, pharmacological and histochemical approaches.
Representative Publications:
Kim, F., Pham, M., Maloney, E., Rizzo, N.O., Morton, G.J., Wisse, B.E., Kirk, E.A., Chait, A., and Schwartz, M.W. Vascular Inflammation, Insulin Resistance, and Reduced Nitric Oxide Production Precede the Onset of Peripheral Insulin Resistance. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2008.
Morton, G.J., Blevins, J.E., Williams, D.L., Niswender, K.D., Gelling, R.W., Rhodes, C.J., Baskin, D.G., and Schwartz, M.W. Leptin action in the forebrain regulates the hindbrain response to satiety signals. J Clin Invest 115:703-710, 2005.
Morton, G.J., Gelling, R.W., Niswender, K.D., Morrison, C.D., Rhodes, C.J., and Schwartz, M.W. Leptin regulates insulin sensitivity via phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase signaling in mediobasal hypothalamic neurons. Cell Metab 2:411-420, 2005.
Morton, G.J., Niswender, K.D., Rhodes, C.J., Myers, M.G., Jr., Blevins, J.E., Baskin, D.G., and Schwartz, M.W. Arcuate nucleus-specific leptin receptor gene therapy attenuates the obesity phenotype of Koletsky (fa(k)/fa(k)) rats. Endocrinology 144:2016-2024, 2003.
Niswender, K.D., Morton, G.J., Stearns, W.H., Rhodes, C.J., Myers, M.G., Jr., and Schwartz, M.W. Intracellular signalling. Key enzyme in leptin-induced anorexia. Nature 413:794-795, 2001.
View Expanded Publication List
Current Collaborations:
Within the Diabetes and Obesity Center of Excellence and its Affiliated Members
Denis Baskin, PhD
James E. Blevins, PhD
David Cummings, MD
Jay Heinecke, MD
Rebecca Hull, PhD
Francis Kim, MD
Steven Kahn, MB, ChB
Dianne Lattemann, PhD
Renee LeBoeuf, PhD
Michael Schwartz, MD
Jay Taborsky, PhD
Brent Wisse, MD
Outside the Diabetes and Obesity Center of Excellence
Peter Havel, DVM, PhD
Chris Morrison, PhD
Martin G. Myers Jr., MD, PhD
Kevin Niswender, MD, PhD
Christopher Rhodes, PhD
Gary Schwartz, PhD
Lab Members:
Dr. Morton resides in the laboratory of Michael Schwartz, MD.