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Joined the Faculty: 2002 Research Interests: Dr. Kaartinen’s research program aims to understand how protein crosslinking enzymes (transglutaminases; TGs), extracellular matrix components and matrix stiffness can regulate cell behavior, and how TG-mediated protein modifications can change protein function. Her particular protein of interest is the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin. From a disease perspective, her group is interested in understanding if alterations in fibronectin matrix is linked to the pathophysiology of osteoporosis and defects in energy metabolism and adipogenesis. Her group uses cell cultures and transgenic mice as models of human disease, as well as chemical biology, biochemistry and cell biology experimental approaches. Academic Appointments: Associate Professor, Faculty of Dentistry Associate Member, Faculty of Medicine (Department of Medicine, Division of Experimental Medicine) Professional Education: 1994 - MSc in Organic Chemistry, University of Jyvaskyla (Finland) 1999 - PhD in Biochemistry, University of Kuopio (currently University of Eastern Finland Teaching 2015 – 2016 Courses DENT 563 Introduction to Research DENT 669 Extracellular Matrix Biology DENT 670 Dental Research Project (MT-MSc) Select Publications:  

1. Myneni VD, Kaartinen MT (2015). Transglutaminase 2 - A novel inhibitor of adipogenesis. Cell Death & Disease. 6:e1868.
2. Wang S, Kaartinen MT (2015). Cellular Factor XIIIA transglutaminase localizes in caveolae and regulates caveolin-1 phosphorylation, homo-oligomerization and c-Src signaling in osteoblasts. J. Histochem Cytochem. 63(11):829-41.
3. Cui C, Kaartinen MT (2015). Monoamines serotonin, inhibit plasma fibronectin assembly into extracellular matrix by acting as a competitive inhibitor to its transglutaminase mediated crosslinking. Bone. 72:43-52.
4. AddisonWN, Nelea V, ChicatunF, ChienY-C, ValiH, Tran-Khanh N, BuschmannMD, NazhatSN, KaartinenMT, Vali H, TecklenburgM, Franceschi RT and McKeeMD (2015). Extracellular matrix mineralization in murine MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cultures: An ultrastructural, compositional and comparative analysis with mouse bone. Bone. 71C:244-256.
5. Dargahi M, Nelea V, Mousa A, Omanovic S, Kaartinen MT (2014) Electrochemical modulation of plasma fibronectin surface conformation enables filament formation and control of endothelial cell-surface interactions. RSC Adv. 4 (88): 47769 - 47780.
6. Myneni VD, Hitomi K, Kaartinen MT (2014). Factor XIII-A transglutaminase acts as a switch between preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation. Blood. 124(8):1344-53.
7. Wang S, Cui C, Hitomi K, Kaartinen MT (2014). Detyrosinated Glu-tubulin is a substrate for cellular Factor XIIIA transglutaminase in differentiating osteoblasts. Amino Acids. 46(6):1513-26.
8. Eckert R, Kaartinen  MT, Nurminskaya M, Belkin A, Colak G, Johnson GCW, Mehta K (2014). Transglutaminase regulation of cell function. Physiol. Reviews. 94, 383-417.
9. Cui C, Wang S, Myneni VD, Hitomi K, Kaartinen MT (2014). Transglutaminase activity is required for stabilization and conversion of plasma FN into permanent osteoblast matrix. Bone 59, 127-138.
10. Piercy-Kotb SA, Mousa A, Al-Jallad HF, Myneni VD, Chicatun F, Nazhat SN, Kaartinen MT (2012). Factor XIIIA expression and secretion in osteoblast cultures is regulated by extracellular collagen network and MAP kinase pathway. J Cell Physiol. 227(7):2936-46.
11. Forsprecher J, Wang Z, Goldberg HA, Kaartinen MT (2011). Transglutaminase-mediated oligomerization promotes osteoblast adhesive properties of osteopontin and bone sialoprotein. Cell Adh. Migr. 5 (1) 1-8. (IF 2.3)
12. Nelea V, Kaartinen MT (2010) Periodic beaded-filament assembly of fibronectin on negatively charged surfaces.  J. Struct. Biol. 170, 50–59. (IF 3.3)
13. Forsprecher J, Wang Z, Nelea V, Kaartinen MT (2009). Enhanced osteoblast adhesion on transglutaminase 2 - polymerized fibronectin. Amino Acids. 36(4): 747-753.
14. Hubmacher D, El-Hallous EI, Nelea V, Kaartinen MT, Lee ER, and Reinhardt DP (2008). Oligomerization of the C-terminus of fibrillin-1 provides the basis for microfibril assembly. Ìý±Ê±·´¡³§. 105 (18): 6548-6553.
15. Keillor JW, Chica RA, Chabot N, Vinci V, Pardin C, Fortin E, Gillet SMFG, Nakano Y, Kaartinen MT, Pelletier JM and Lubell WD (2008). The bioorganic chemistry of transglutaminase: From mechanism to inhibition and engineering. Can. J. Chem. 86 (4): 271-276. (IF 0.9)
16. McKee MD, Addison W, Kaartinen MT (2006) Hierarchies of extracellular matrix and mineral organization in bone of the craniofacial complex and skeleton.  Cells, Tissues, Organs. 181 (3-4), 176-88. (IF 1.9)
17. Al-Jallad HF, Nakano Y, Chen JLY, McMillan E, Lefebvre C, Kaartinen MT (2006). Transglutaminase activity regulates osteoblast differentiation and matrix mineralization in MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cells. Matrix Biology. 25, 135-148.