After our work on Xenopus myotomal muscle, we began to explore the organization of desmin filaments in mammalian cardiac muscle cells.

Cardiomyocytes are linked end-to end through a specialized adherence junction complex, known as the intercalated disc.

A scanning electron micrograph of heart muscle

The disc contains at least three distinct junctional components: gap junctions (containing of connexin-43), IF-anchoring desmosomes (containing desmoplakin) and adherens junctions (containing alpha-catenin).desmoplakin

We obtained a cDNA for rat desmin from Guido Swaart and engineered a number of mutations into it, based on the known pathogenic mutations in epidermal keratins.

These mutation polypeptides tested for their effects on IF organization in non-muscle cells by Bob Evans.

The proteins were synthesized in bacteria and their assembly properties were characterized by Harald Herrmann (Heidelberg, Germany).

Under lots of construction - but if you want adenoviruses expressing mutant desmins, let us know.

under construction (thanks to the American Heart Association).