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.

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Apr 13th, 12:45 PM Apr 13th, 2:45 PM

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