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