We study heart development, adult heart function and skeletal muscle function using model organisms to understand why changes in proteins that surround the cell’s nucleus lead to cardiovascular disease and skeletal muscle disorders.
Specifically, we use structural biology techniques to reveal how mutations in nuclear envelope proteins affect folding. We combine this with cell biology and biochemistry, to understand the functional consequences of these mutations at cellular and tissue levels. Furthermore, we use physiological approaches for monitoring heart function of model organisms that are engineered to mimic the cardiomyopathy-causing mutations found in patients.
The goal of our research is to use basic biology to uncover new disease mechanisms to benefit basic scientists and patients alike.
People
Research Associate
Principal Investigator
Projects
Nuclear envelope in cardiac development and disease
The nuclear envelope plays critical roles during heart development. To study this, we isolate and image whole hearts to gain important insights into nuclear envelope biology. This embryonic heart was labelled using specific markers to identify heart muscle cells (red), vasculature (green) and DNA (blue). The image is a close-up of the aortic and mitral valves at the top of a developing heart which are important in regulating blood flow to and from the heart.
Nuclear envelope and LINC complex function in striated muscle ageing and exercise
By isolating individual cells, we are able to study their characteristics in detail to understand the effects of ageing and exercise on nuclear envelope and the Linker of Nucleoplasm and Cytoskeleton (LINC) complex function. This adult heart cell was stained using specific markers to identify heart muscle cells or cardiomyocytes (cyan) and DNA (magenta) and were imaged on a super-resolution microscope.
Inherited muscle disease
Certain people are more susceptible to developing skeletal and heart problems. We are interested in the heritable forms of heart disease that leads to the thinning of the heart muscle (dilated cardiomyopathy) as well as potentially fatal irregular heartbeat rhythms (arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy). These young heart muscle cells were isolated and stained for the nuclear envelope, which surrounds the DNA of the cell, as well as myofibrils. They were then assembled in a collage using different colours for the various components.
Publications
Awards
BHF Intermediate Fellowship
News
Study explores how exercise might mitigate age-related decline in skeletal muscle structure and function
A new study has observed differences in the shape, structure and mechanical properties of nuclei in trained and untrained individuals, potentially helping to...
PhD Students
People
Research Associate
Principal Investigator
Projects
Nuclear envelope in cardiac development and disease
The nuclear envelope plays critical roles during heart development. To study this, we isolate and image whole hearts to gain important insights into nuclear envelope biology. This embryonic heart was labelled using specific markers to identify heart muscle cells (red), vasculature (green) and DNA (blue). The image is a close-up of the aortic and mitral valves at the top of a developing heart which are important in regulating blood flow to and from the heart.
Nuclear envelope and LINC complex function in striated muscle ageing and exercise
By isolating individual cells, we are able to study their characteristics in detail to understand the effects of ageing and exercise on nuclear envelope and the Linker of Nucleoplasm and Cytoskeleton (LINC) complex function. This adult heart cell was stained using specific markers to identify heart muscle cells or cardiomyocytes (cyan) and DNA (magenta) and were imaged on a super-resolution microscope.
Inherited muscle disease
Certain people are more susceptible to developing skeletal and heart problems. We are interested in the heritable forms of heart disease that leads to the thinning of the heart muscle (dilated cardiomyopathy) as well as potentially fatal irregular heartbeat rhythms (arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy). These young heart muscle cells were isolated and stained for the nuclear envelope, which surrounds the DNA of the cell, as well as myofibrils. They were then assembled in a collage using different colours for the various components.
Publications
Awards
BHF Intermediate Fellowship
News
Study explores how exercise might mitigate age-related decline in skeletal muscle structure and function
A new study has observed differences in the shape, structure and mechanical properties of nuclei in trained and untrained individuals, potentially helping to...
PhD Students
Our Partners
British Heart Foundation
Group lead
Principal Investigator