Seminario impartido por Jorge Alegre-Cebollada (CNIC)
The research interest of my laboratory is to understand how mechanical proteins generate and sense mechanical forces in the context of a living cell. Both aspects of protein mechanobiology allow organisms to thrive on Earth’s gravitational field (think for instance in locomotion or fluid circulation) and to influence their environment (mastication, coughing). In addition, protein mechanobiology is a key contributor to tissue development and organization. Hence, any alteration to protein mechanobiology can have devastating consequences for organismal fitness. I will focus my presentation on two examples that involve the giant protein titin, a main component of muscle cells enabling contraction. First, I will show data demonstrating that protein glycations typical of diabetes stiffen cardiac myocytes via formation of extensive intramolecular crosslinks. Next, I will present evidence indicating that point mutations hydrophilizing the core of titin domains cause heart disease. The mechanisms by which destabilization of a single titin domain out of >300 induces disease are still unknown, but are probably shared by other conditions caused by gene loss-of-function.
Ponente del seminario: Dr. Jorge Alegre-Cebollada
Fecha del seminario: 10/05/2023 12:00
Lugar del seminario: IQFR
