Heart disease is one of the major cause of death in the world. Identifying the molecular events during heart development will permit the advancement of preventing and treatment heart disease. This project will focus on elucidating the role of MEF2D during heart development with particular attention to the differentiation of muscle cells. MEF2D conditional null mice will be generated and used to exam the role of MEF2D in muscle development. Concurrently, MEF2D inactivated embryonic stem (ES) cells will be employed to study the role of MEF2D during cell differentiation in vitro. Using over expressed MEF2D ES cells, we will perform microarray analysis to identify MEF2D's downstream targets. Biochemical experiments will be performed on these newly identified genes to determine the transcriptional pathways that MEF2D regulates during heart development.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32HL074663-03
Application #
6893662
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F10 (20))
Program Officer
Meadows, Tawanna
Project Start
2003-07-16
Project End
2005-09-23
Budget Start
2005-07-16
Budget End
2005-09-23
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$11,511
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Sw Medical Center Dallas
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
800771545
City
Dallas
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
75390
Phan, Dillon; Rasmussen, Tara L; Nakagawa, Osamu et al. (2005) BOP, a regulator of right ventricular heart development, is a direct transcriptional target of MEF2C in the developing heart. Development 132:2669-78