Characterization of Structural Abnormalities in the Cardiac Myocytes of Transgenic Mice
Event Website
CSU 253/254/255
Start Date
13-4-2004 12:45 PM
End Date
13-4-2004 2:45 PM
Student's Major
Biological Sciences
Student's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Mentor's Name
Marilyn Hart
Mentor's Department
Biological Sciences
Mentor's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Description
Actin is an essential component of eukaryotic cells that contributes to both the shape and movement of the cell. Actin is regulated by a variety of accessory proteins including actin capping protein (CP). CP is a heterodimer composed of an α and β subunit. Lower organisms have one form of each of the subunits. In higher organisms, there are three forms of the a subunits (αl, α2, α3) and three forms of the p subunit (βl, β2, β3). Previous transgenic studies indicate that CP attaches actin filaments to the Z line of striated muscle and that the beta isoforms have distinct functions in murine myocardium. The purpose of this research is to characterize the structural abnormalities in hearts of transgenic mice expressing forms of CP defective in attaching thin filaments to Z lines. Hearts were removed from mice ranging in age from 6-9 months, their gross morphology assessed. The hearts were then flash-frozen and sectioned using a cryotome to a thickness of approximately 5-8 microns thick. Sections were transferred to gelatin coated slides and their morphology scrutinized by phase contrast microscopy. The sections were reacted with mouse anti-actin antibody and the immunocomplex visualized by fluorescence microscopy. Results reveal a reorganization of actin filaments in transgenic myocardium.
Characterization of Structural Abnormalities in the Cardiac Myocytes of Transgenic Mice
Actin is an essential component of eukaryotic cells that contributes to both the shape and movement of the cell. Actin is regulated by a variety of accessory proteins including actin capping protein (CP). CP is a heterodimer composed of an α and β subunit. Lower organisms have one form of each of the subunits. In higher organisms, there are three forms of the a subunits (αl, α2, α3) and three forms of the p subunit (βl, β2, β3). Previous transgenic studies indicate that CP attaches actin filaments to the Z line of striated muscle and that the beta isoforms have distinct functions in murine myocardium. The purpose of this research is to characterize the structural abnormalities in hearts of transgenic mice expressing forms of CP defective in attaching thin filaments to Z lines. Hearts were removed from mice ranging in age from 6-9 months, their gross morphology assessed. The hearts were then flash-frozen and sectioned using a cryotome to a thickness of approximately 5-8 microns thick. Sections were transferred to gelatin coated slides and their morphology scrutinized by phase contrast microscopy. The sections were reacted with mouse anti-actin antibody and the immunocomplex visualized by fluorescence microscopy. Results reveal a reorganization of actin filaments in transgenic myocardium.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2004/poster-session-B/1
