PMI members are using a multidisciplinary approach to discover important steps and mechanisms in muscle development and homeostasis in normal and diseased models.

The development of striated muscle occurs in a series of events involving the formation of actin and myosin filaments, their assembly into an interdigitating array, and their interaction with cross-linking proteins to form the sarcomere. Much is to be learned about the roles played by individual sarcomeric proteins in the assembly and maintenance of myofibrils. PMI members are employing new molecular biology and genetic techniques, combined with advanced imaging, biophysical, and physiological assessment tools to discover the mechanisms of muscle development.

The objective of the training in this program is to use such a multidisciplinary approach combining the techniques of cell biology, biophysics, genetics and molecular biology to discover important steps in the differentiation of precursor cells into skeletal and cardiac muscle cells and the parameters governing the assembly of myofibrils.

Investigating Members:

• Erfei Bi, Ph.D.

• Margaret M. Chou, Ph.D.

• Dennis E. Discher, Ph.D.

• Jonathan A. Epstein, M.D.

• Alan M. Kelly, Ph.D.

• Michael S. Parmacek, M.D.

• Neal A. Rubinstein, M.D., Ph.D.

• H. Lee Sweeney, Ph.D.

• John W. Weisel, Ph.D.