Cardiac Cytoskeleton
With Dr. Ben Prosser
The heart’s micro mechanics.
From the lab of Dr. Ben Prosser
Dr. Benjamin Prosser’s work in microtubules is revealing more and more about how the heart beats, grows and repairs itself at the cellular level.
Each heart muscle cell contains a scaffolding made of microtubules and other cytoskeletal filaments that control contraction and relaxation through mechanical signals. But where the role of microtubules was previously unknown, Dr. Prosser’s lab is finding that they serve as mechanical participants in cardiac function.
High resolution images have shown that microtubules can regulate contraction and relaxation, facilitate repairs, and deliver new proteins in response to stress or damage. Dr. Prosser’s research is instrumental in developing new therapies for heart failure.
The cardiomyocyte cytoskeleton
Intermediate filaments (purple) and microtubules (orange) form critical components of the heart muscle cytoskeleton. Together, they maintain cell structure, transport various organelles and cargo, and alter the cells’ mechanical properties.
The cytoskeleton in heart disease
Microtubules (blue) run amok in heart failure, which can lead to the stiffening of heart muscle cells and impede the heart's ability to contract and relax smoothly.
The cytoskeleton in heart disease
Microtubules (blue) run amok in heart failure, taking over much of the intracellular area. This leads to the stiffening of heart muscle cells and can impede the heart's ability to contract and relax smoothly.
The inner workings of the heart
Using motorized micromanipulators, the Prosser lab can stretch a heart muscle cell (bottom), as it would be when the heart fills with blood. With high-resolution microscopy, they can visualize the mechanical contributions of the microtubules (blue).
“Peering deep into the heart and brain unveils elegant complexity and new therapeutic possibilities.”
At Penn Medicine’s Prosser Lab, Dr. Benjamin Prosser leads research teams that focus on cardiac mechanobiology to develop new therapies for heart disease. And recently an arm of his lab has been dedicated to genetic therapies for neurodevelopmental disorders of the brain.
Experience more breakthroughs and download Dr. Ben Prosser’s full research report.
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