How heart muscle's contractile units (sarcomeres) form
Mechanisms of de novo cardiac sarcomere assembly
Researchers are using human stem cell–derived heart cells to watch how the tiny structures that let the heart beat are built.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11303419 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project grows heart cells made from human pluripotent stem cells in the lab so scientists can watch sarcomere formation up close. They will use advanced microscopes, time-lapse imaging, FRAP, and electron microscopy to observe Z-bodies and Z-discs as they form. The team will use CRISPR interference to reduce specific proteins identified in the ACTN2 interactome to see which ones drive assembly. Findings aim to reveal the biophysical steps and molecules that create membrane-less organelles involved in early sarcomere building.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with sarcomere-related cardiomyopathies or congenital heart defects are the patient groups most directly relevant to this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose heart problems are unrelated to sarcomere structure (for example, isolated valve disease or purely vascular conditions) are unlikely to see direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new targets to prevent or treat congenital heart defects and cardiomyopathies caused by sarcomere formation problems.
How similar studies have performed: Related lab studies using stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes and advanced imaging have improved understanding of sarcomere function, but direct mechanisms of de novo sarcomere assembly remain relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dubois, Nicole — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Dubois, Nicole
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.