Research

 

Cardiac and skeletal muscle regulation and inherited diseases. Molecular basis of striated muscle contraction.

Cardiac/Slow Skeletal Troponin C (C/SSTnC) is the only component of CTn that is expressed and present in both cardiac and slow skeletal muscles. Our research aims at elucidating the physiological consequences of TnC mutants related to Hypertrophic (HCM) and dilated (DCM) cardiomyopathy in slow skeletal muscle. These studies will investigate whether slow skeletal muscle containing C/SSTnC mutations develops skeletal abnormalities similar to those seen in the heart and whether the function of skeletal muscle is altered. Our lab uses innovative approaches including knock-in mice to provide critical insights into this disease in skeletal muscle.