Muscle Molecular Biology
Section
Robert S Adelstein, MD, Principal Investigator
The Section on Muscle Molecular Biology studies the function
of vertebrate nonmuscle myosin II, including II-A, II-B and
II-C. Our recent work focuses on the effects of ablating,
mutating and decreasing the amount of nonmuscle myosin II-B
and II-A in mice. We have found that ablation, the introduction
of a single amino acid mutation, as well as reduction of the
II-B gene product leads to defects in the mouse heart and
brain including a reduction in cardiac myocytes and hydrocephalus.
Presently, we are studying the mechanisms that are responsible
for these pathological changes. We are also looking at the
effect of ablating nonmuscle myosin II-A on mouse development
and on cellular processes. These knockout mice die as early
as E6.0.
Research Highlights
Myosin
IIB knockout mice
Myocyte
hypertrophy
Hypomorphic
brain defects
|