WEBINAR—Cut and Paste of Myosin Binding Protein-C in Striated Muscles

October 3, 2023
11 a.m. EDT

In this webinar, Samantha Harris, PhD, of the University of Arizona, discusses the development of three new mouse models engineered to target and replace specific myosin binding protein-C (MyBP-C) paralogs in muscle fibers and the impact of their mutations on skeletal and cardiac muscle diseases. MyBP-C is a family of regulatory proteins encoded by three separate genes that are expressed in striated muscles and that are critical for normal muscle function.   

Harris will describe how her lab overcame the challenge of identifying distinct functional roles for each type of myosin binding protein-C by selectively targeting MyBP-C1, MyBP-C 2 and MyBP-C 3 to permit removal and replacement (cut and paste) of each protein paralog in permeabilized muscle fibers. We will discuss how the three mouse models facilitate discovery of MyBP-C structure and function in different muscle types and how different models can test how mutations in each variant causes disease in skeletal and cardiac muscles. 

Speakers

Samantha Harris, PhD
Professor, University of Arizona

Samantha Harris, PhD, is a professor at the University of Arizona. She is a muscle physiologist who studies molecular mechanisms of cardiac contraction and relaxation, especially how the myofilament regulatory protein myosin binding protein-C (MyBP-C), influences actin and myosin interactions. Harris’ lab pioneered the novel "cut and paste" approach to selectively replace MyBP-C in sarcomeres.

Matt Borkowski
General Manager, Aurora Scientific

Matthew Borkowski, general manager at Aurora Scientific, is a biomedical engineer and a graduate of the University of Toronto in Canada. He has been involved in product design and customer support at Aurora Scientific for over 15 years. He spends much of his time in the lab consulting with scientists and assisting with novel application of Aurora Scientific instruments in various disciplines, including muscle, tendon and connective tissue research.