Probing the Functional Roles of Titin Ligands in Cardiac Myofibril Assembly and Maintenance

摘要: Sarcomeres of cardiac muscle are comprised numerous proteins organized in an elegantly precise order. The exact mechanism how these assembled into myofibrils during heart development is not yet understood, although existing vitro and vivo model systems have provided great insight this complex process. It has been proposed by several groups that the giant elastic protein titin acts as a “molecular template” to orchestrate sarcomeric organization myofibrillogenesis. Titin’s highly modular structure, composed both repeating unique domains interact with wide spectrum contractile regulatory ligands, supports hypothesis. Recent functional studies clues physiological significance interaction titin-binding context live cells. Improved models myofibril assembly, along application powerful cells, well characterization additional likely reveal surprising new functions for third filament system.