Excitation-contraction coupling and calcium signalling in health and disease

Objective

In skeletal and heart muscle, the signal transduction between the cell surface membrane and the contractile apparatus, called excitation-contraction coupling (ECC), is a model for calcium flux and homeostasis of unique importance. No other organs respond so dramatically to their use or inactivity by hypertrophy or atrophy. Our aim is to study the regulation and molecular basis of ECC in health and disease in man and in animal and cell models.
Our goals are:
a) to identify novel ECC proteins and characterize their interaction at the molecular level;
b) to study localization and targeting of the proteins to their respective compartments, and their interaction using cellular and animal and disease models;
c ) to functionally analyze ECC and calcium signaling with high-resolution imaging and electrophysiological techniques;
d) to study the genetics and pathophysiology of disease arising from EEC defects. Our proposal integrates a large number of state-of -the-art technologies in the fields of protein biochemistry, molecular genetics, cell biology and physiology.

Programme(s)

• FP5-HUMAN POTENTIAL - Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Improving the human research potential and the socio-economic knowledge base" (1998-2002)

Funding Scheme

Coordinator

Participants (7)