Keeping the heart's engine in sync: Study shows contractions rely on critical protein for efficient function
Friday, February 20, 2015 - 15:00
in Biology & Nature
A remarkable protein that helps choreograph the highly specific series of events that ensure the heart beats consistently and accurately has been discovered by researchers. Called myosin-binding protein C (cMyBP-C), this protein performs its masterpiece inside the sarcomere, a part of the heart muscle tissue that is one-fiftieth the diameter of a human hair. Trillions or more sarcomeres must contract simultaneously in order for the heart to maintain its beat. Problems with this protein can cause sudden death via a condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.