Metabolism vs. Architecture

How does reduced integrity of membrane structures affect the stability of desmin and the bound myofibrils?

The reciprocal dynamics between tissue architecture and function is maintained by the integrity of structural complexes and the transmission of growth signals from cell surface receptors. In skeletal muscle, impaired structural integrity or loss of growth-promoting signals lead to reduced cell size and contractile capacity, and different myopathies in human.

Current projects in the lab are aimed at identifying how the reduced integrity of certain membrane structures affects the stability of desmin filaments and the bound myofibrils, and causes atrophy. We focus on protein complexes, which are situated at the muscle membrane and are crucial for tissue architecture and function, and whose dissociation causes atrophy during aging, cancer or diabetes, or different muscle diseases, especially Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Proposed model for gamma-catenin role in stabilizing membrane structures and the cytoskeleton