The role of transcriptional modulator skNAC in myogenic differentiation and muscle regeneration

Subproject Speakers
Berlin: Barbara Munz, MD, Junior Prof.
Paris:  Frédéric Relaix, PhD, Prof. and Vincent Mouly, PhD

The "skeletal muscle-specific variant of nascent polypeptide associated complex" (skNAC) is a skeletal and heart muscle-specific splice variant of the translational co-activator αNAC. Others and we recently showed that skNAC expression is not only dramatically induced in myogenic differentiation, but also in muscle regeneration. Our observations were made in the dystrophic mdx mouse and in various human skeletal muscle diseases. In addition, recent data using loss-of-function mutants in zebra fish suggest involvement of skNAC in skeletal muscle development and potentially regeneration. We hypothesize that skNAC is crucial in myoblast differentiation and in muscle regeneration. This project aims to mechanistically analyze the role of skNAC in skeletal muscle tissue.

Completed theses

MYOGRAD MEDICAL STUDENTS (1-year-stipend)