Invited Paper BI-TuA8
Hierarchical Control of Form and Function in the Heart

Tuesday, October 16, 2007, 4:00 pm, Room 609

Expression of sarcomeric proteins is necessary, but not sufficient, for contraction of cardiac myocytes. Posttranslational processes contribute to regulation of muscle growth during cardiac development, normal function, and disease. However, little is known about the mechanisms and signals that potentiate directional muscle growth and the self-assembly and organization of sarcomeres, myofibrils, cells, and tissues. These structures appear to be optimized for their contractile function. In order to elucidate the structure-function relationships that govern contractility, we have developed computational and experimental models of self-assembly and organization in cardiac myocytes in vitro. By controlling only 2D boundary conditions imposed on the myocyte, we are able to engineer predictable myofibrillar patterns and contractility of individual myocytes. These experiments have revealed how the extracellular matrix provides an important set of instructions for self-assembly of the myocyte cytoskeleton architecture which serves as a template for myofibrillar patterning. Our results suggest the post-translational mechanisms that regulate cardiac organo- and pathogenesis.