Molecular Regulators of Myocyte Mechanics

Having recently demonstrated that stabilization of the microtubule network increases cardiomyocyte viscoelasticity and reduces contractile performance in heart failure, our lab is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms that give rise to increased microtubule stability in the cardiomyocyte. Depending on the etiology of heart disease, differential regulation of specific microtubule associated proteins (MAPs) changes their affinity for the microtubule network and directly modulates microtubule stability. This in turn changes the viscoelasticity and contractility of the cardiomyocyte (right).