How myosin gene and protein changes affect heart and skeletal muscles
Official title: Genetics and Molecular Biology of Striated Muscle Myosin
Funded at San Diego State University · NIH-11326263 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are using fruit flies to learn how changes in the myosin motor protein drive aging and inherited heart and skeletal muscle diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | San Diego State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 1983 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $548,562 |
| NIH project number | 5R37GM032443-41 |
| Project ID | NIH-11326263 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with inherited myosin-related muscle diseases (for example, inclusion body myopathy type 3 or myosin storage myopathy) or inherited cardiomyopathies linked to myosin abnormalities would be the most relevant patient group for follow-up studies.
✕Less likely to help
People with muscle or heart conditions unrelated to myosin biology, or those seeking immediate clinical treatment, are unlikely to receive direct benefit from these basic fly-model experiments.
What this research studies
This project uses genetically modified Drosophila (fruit flies) to model human myosin-related muscle diseases and aging. Scientists examine myosin at many levels, from atomic structure and biochemical activity to muscle fiber mechanics, heart function, and fly movement. They test specific myosin residues that are modified during human aging, measure ATPase activity and filament formation, and look for protein aggregates and disrupted proteostasis. The team also tests whether boosting autophagy through FOXO can reduce harmful aggregates in models of inclusion body myopathy type 3 and myosin storage myopathy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify molecular pathways and targets, such as proteostasis or autophagy, that might lead to treatments slowing or preventing muscle degeneration.
How similar studies have gone: Model-organism and cell-based studies have previously highlighted proteostasis and autophagy as promising targets, but translating those findings into proven human therapies is still early and ongoing.
Where this research is happening
-
San Diego State University
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bernstein, Sanford I — San Diego State University
- Study coordinator: Bernstein, Sanford I
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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.