Cardiac Protein Lab
Welcome to the Cardiac Protein Lab. This lab, led by Dr. Todd Gillis, is focused on the vertebrate heart and the mechanisms that regulate it's function. We are particularly interested in the proteins associated with the contractile element (troponin, myosin, actin etc) and how changes in these can alter cardiac function.
This research involves a variety of approaches to characterize how changes in protein structure and function alter cardiac function. These approaches include gene cloning to identify specific cardiac genes as well as genomic and proteomic techniques to characterize how cardiac stress alters gene and protein expression. In addition, we are examining the functional properties of recombinant cardiac proteins to examine how changes in protein structure, due to mutation or phosphorylation, alters protein function. These experiments are completed in solution as well as in skinned cardiac muscle preparations. In the skinned muscle experiments we characterize the ability of the preparation to be activated by calcium. Through these studies we are working to identify specific mechanisms that can be used to alter the functional capability of the vertebrate heart.
Please use the TABS under "Gillis Lab" (to the left) to explore our lab and see what we are up to.
This research involves a variety of approaches to characterize how changes in protein structure and function alter cardiac function. These approaches include gene cloning to identify specific cardiac genes as well as genomic and proteomic techniques to characterize how cardiac stress alters gene and protein expression. In addition, we are examining the functional properties of recombinant cardiac proteins to examine how changes in protein structure, due to mutation or phosphorylation, alters protein function. These experiments are completed in solution as well as in skinned cardiac muscle preparations. In the skinned muscle experiments we characterize the ability of the preparation to be activated by calcium. Through these studies we are working to identify specific mechanisms that can be used to alter the functional capability of the vertebrate heart.
Please use the TABS under "Gillis Lab" (to the left) to explore our lab and see what we are up to.
Available Positions
- We are always looking for good students
News
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Congratulations to lab members Jordan Klaiman (PhD Candidate) and Andrew Robertson (Thesis Student) who have been awarded Post-Graduate Fellowships from NSERC
Check out our latest paper. Is is entitled:
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It is authored by Justin Shaffer and Dr. Gillis