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Distinguished University Professor and Head
Physiology and Biophysics
Molecular, Structural, and Integrated Cellular Biology of Cardiac Muscle Contraction in Health and Disease
W e want to know the fundamental mechanisms responsible for regulation of the molecular motors of heart muscle cells. These motors are housed in myofilaments responsible for shortening of cardiac muscle cells. Our focus is on the molecular switch that turns on the motor. Our experiments address the following question: What events signal switch function and how is the switch modulated by myofilament structure, chemistry, mechanical state and drugs? We approach this question at several levels of organization by integrating information derived from techniques using the disciplines of biophysics, biochemistry as well as molecular, structural and cellular biology. Acquired heart failure, and the linkage of sudden death in the young to mutations in sarcomeric proteins forms the basis for many of our studies with biophysical, molecular, and transgenic approaches. An important endpoint and success of our approaches has been the development of new drugs for use in the treatment of heart failure.
Last updated: 09/24/09