Muscle Cellular and Molecular Biology
-
The Group for Muscle Cellular and Molecular Biology investigates different aspects of the structure and function of striated muscle - heart and skeletal muscle. Of our particular interest are molecular mechanisms of:
- Heart regeneration
- Skeletal muscle repair
- Adaptation of muscle cells to stress
- Rhabdomyosarcoma development and progression.
Central role in studying the processes involved in recovery of muscle tissue after injury and adaptive response to stress belongs to the genes encoding members of the family of muscle proteins with ankyrin repeats (Muscle Ankyrin Repeat Proteins, MARP). ANKRD1 and ANKRD2 participate in mechanotransduction of signals from the sarcomere to the nucleus, where they modulate the expression of target genes. They are expressed during the development of the heart and skeletal muscle, upon increased mechanical load and in pathological conditions, such as myocardial infarction and myopathies. By profiling their expression, identification of interacting partners and signaling pathways in which they are involved, and deciphering their function we are getting deeper insight into mechanisms of muscle regeneration and repair, both in physiological and stress conditions. We analyze ANKRD1 and ANKRD2 genes as markers for the differential diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma, and consider them as potential therapeutic targets.
We employ the zebrafish (Danio rerio) as an in vivo model system. In order to decipher the function of genes under the study, we use mutants generated by Crispr / Cas9 technology and reporter lines. We established a model of myocardial infarction, mechanical injury of skeletal muscle, and model of increased physical activity by forced swimming. In addition to zebrafish, we use cell cultures and cadaveric human muscle samples. A wide range of methods and techniques for protein analysis, including western blot, immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, methods for detection of protein-protein interactions (such as pull down and co-immunoprecipitation), as well as fluorescence and confocal microscopy are proficiently used in our research.
-
Snežana Kojić
Group for Muscle Cellular and Molecular Biology
Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Genomics
-
ASSISTANT RESEARCH PROFESSOR
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
JUNIOR RESEARCHER
ZEBARR - Zebrafish ankrd1a as a common player in heart regeneration and skeletal muscle repair - a new prospect for unlocking regenerative potential of human heart (2021 - 2024)
