Myosin Modifications in Aged Muscle

描述（由申请人提供）：候选人：K02候选人LaDora V. Thompson是一名细胞生理学家，其研究重点是年龄诱导的骨骼肌退化的分子机制。虽然在肌肉生理学的训练，汤普森博士已获得肌肉生物化学和分子生物物理学的经验。她的近期目标是集中精力研究她资助的NIA R01基金“肌肉减少症中的结构和钙调节蛋白”。她的长期目标是在以下领域保持或超过目前的生产力水平：1）成功实现持续的校外资助研究，重点是确定与年龄相关的肌肉功能障碍的潜在分子机制，2）通过利用最先进的生物物理学和蛋白质组学技术，继续为衰老研究做出贡献，3）指导学生和博士后研究员进行衰老研究。K02独立科学家奖将为候选人提供必要的资金，通过提供工资支持来实现这些职业目标，以减少她的重大教学负担，并使她能够将大部分时间用于研究。 环境：汤普森博士继续研究进展的环境是杰出的。她的研究合作者托马斯博士和费灵顿博士是肌肉生物物理学和蛋白质修饰（蛋白质组学）领域的国际知名科学家。汤普森博士、托马斯博士和费灵顿博士参与了明尼苏达大学资助的老龄化中心和肌肉和肌肉疾病中心。他们有成功的合作和出版物的历史。他们的综合专业知识提供了一种新的方法来回答与年龄相关的肌肉退化的具体问题。 研究：本研究的总体目标是确定潜在的分子机制 随着年龄的增长，肌肉性能下降（目标1）。我们正在使用电子顺磁共振光谱（目的2）和蛋白质组学（目的3）技术来研究年龄对肌球蛋白的结构，功能和翻译后修饰的影响，肌球蛋白是肌肉中的主要收缩蛋白。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Candidate: The K02 candidate, LaDora V. Thompson, is a cellular physiologist whose research is focused on molecular mechanisms underlying age-induced skeletal muscle deterioration. Although trained in muscle physiology, Dr. Thompson has acquired experience in muscle biochemistry and molecular biophysics. Her immediate goal is to focus intensively on her funded NIA R01 grant "Structural and Calcium Regulatory Proteins in Sarcopenia". Her long term goals are to maintain or exceed the current level of productivity in the following areas: 1) successfully attain continued extramurally-funded research focused on identifying underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for age-related muscle dysfunction, 2) continue to contribute to aging research by utilizing state of the art biophysical and proteomic technology, 3) mentor students and post-doctoral fellows in aging research. The K02 Independent Scientist Award will provide the necessary funding for the candidate to reach these career goals by providing salary support to decrease her significant teaching load and allow her to spend the majority of her time on research. Environment: The environment for Dr. Thompson's continued research progress is outstanding. Her research collaborators, Drs. Thomas and Ferrington, are internationally known scientists in the fields of muscle biophysics and proteins modifications (proteomics). Drs. Thompson, Thomas and Ferrington are involved with the funded Center on Aging and the Center for Muscle and Muscle Disorders at the University of Minnesota. They have a history of successful collaborations and publications. Their combined expertise provides a novel approach to answering specific questions about age-related deterioration of muscle. Research: The overall aim of this research is to determine the molecular mechanisms underlying diminished performance of muscle with age (Aim 1). We are using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (Aim 2) and proteomic (Aim 3) techniques to study the effects of age on the structure, function, and post-translational modifications of myosin, the major contractile protein in muscle.