WVXU: UC researchers identify protein involved in fight or flight

College of Medicine lab leads research team examining skeletal muscle protein

It has been deemed an essential trait that has allowed humans and higher primates to survive. Researchers in a UC College of Medicine laboratory have identified one of the regulatory proteins that plays a role in how the fight-or-flight response occurs. Sakthivel Sadayappan, PhD, a professor in the UC Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, discussed the research finding with WVXU’s Tana Weingartner. There are fast and slow types of skeletal myosin binding protein-C, a thick filament regulatory protein in striated muscle. The fast skeletal myosin binding protein-C modulates how quickly and forcefully muscles contract. Fast muscle is important for getting away from threats.  The study, on which Sadayappan was a co-author, is available in the scholarly journal PNAS.  The study’s lead author is Taejeong Song, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in the Sadayappan Lab.

Listen to the WVXU segment online.

Learn more about fast skeletal myosin binding protein-C research at UC.

Other media also covered this research including:

Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News

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