Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Memorial University of Newfoundland
$39,500.00
Equipment for the measurement of sarcomere dynamics
FY 2010-11
Summary
In vertebrates (fish, amphibians, birds and mammals), ""Excitation-Contraction Coupling"" (ECC) refers to the process whereby stimulation of heart muscle cells (Excitation), a transitory elevation of intracellular Ca2+ levels (Coupling) and the interaction between the contractile proteins that make up the sarcomeres (Contraction) results in a heart beat. Our laboratory already supports advanced research on membrane excitation and regulation of Ca2+ levels in heart cells. In this proposal, equipment is requested to study the ""contraction"" component of the ECC. Laser diffraction and strain gauge systems will record changes in sarcomere length and corresponding variations of force in heart cells, respectively. When combined with our existing setup, this new equipment will enable us to study the full ECC process in the same cardiac preparation. This new technological platform will immediately support 2 major research programs. The first program (Faculty of Medicine, MUN) focuses on understanding cellular differences between the hearts of small and large mammals. Specifically, Dr. Stuyvers' research addresses the hypothesis that the ECC of heart cells from small mammals (e.g. mice, rats) is designed to accommodate high heart rates (>400 beats per minute) in comparison with the hearts of large mammals (e.g. humans, pigs, horses etc.). The hearts of this latter group cannot sustain beating rates > 200 beats per minute without developing abnormal and irregular heart beats (arrhythmia). Second, the requested equipment is required to implement Dr. Gamperl's research (Ocean Sciences Centre, MUN) on how aspects of the cardiac ECC, and thus heart function, are affected when fish are challenged with conditions of low water oxygen and high temperature. In both projects, the new technological platform will support the training of a large number of students (graduate and undergraduate), and foster collaborations with other investigators with interest and experimental needs in the field of cardiac ECC.
Program
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Recipient
Location
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
406406-2011
Name nom
Stuyvers, Bruno
Department département
Medicine, Faculty of
Organization id
89
Institution établissement
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Province en
Newfoundland and Labrador
Province fr
Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2010
Competition year année de concours
2011
Award amount
39500
Program id
EQPEQ
Program name en
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche - catégorie 1 (<150 000$)
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1501
Committee name en
Genes, Cells and Molecules
Committee name fr
Gènes, cellules et molécules
Area of application code
1200
Area of application group en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application group fr
Avancement des connaissances
Area of application en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application fr
Avancement des connaissances
Research subject code
5506
Research subject group en
Animal biology
Research subject group fr
Biologie animale
Research subject en
Animal circulation
Research subject fr
Circulation animale
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Equipment for the measurement of sarcomere dynamics
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
In vertebrates (fish, amphibians, birds and mammals), ""Excitation-Contraction Coupling"" (ECC) refers to the process whereby stimulation of heart muscle cells (Excitation), a transitory elevation of intracellular Ca2+ levels (Coupling) and the interaction between the contractile proteins that make up the sarcomeres (Contraction) results in a heart beat. Our laboratory already supports advanced research on membrane excitation and regulation of Ca2+ levels in heart cells. In this proposal, equipment is requested to study the ""contraction"" component of the ECC. Laser diffraction and strain gauge systems will record changes in sarcomere length and corresponding variations of force in heart cells, respectively. When combined with our existing setup, this new equipment will enable us to study the full ECC process in the same cardiac preparation. This new technological platform will immediately support 2 major research programs. The first program (Faculty of Medicine, MUN) focuses on understanding cellular differences between the hearts of small and large mammals. Specifically, Dr. Stuyvers' research addresses the hypothesis that the ECC of heart cells from small mammals (e.g. mice, rats) is designed to accommodate high heart rates (>400 beats per minute) in comparison with the hearts of large mammals (e.g. humans, pigs, horses etc.). The hearts of this latter group cannot sustain beating rates > 200 beats per minute without developing abnormal and irregular heart beats (arrhythmia). Second, the requested equipment is required to implement Dr. Gamperl's research (Ocean Sciences Centre, MUN) on how aspects of the cardiac ECC, and thus heart function, are affected when fish are challenged with conditions of low water oxygen and high temperature. In both projects, the new technological platform will support the training of a large number of students (graduate and undergraduate), and foster collaborations with other investigators with interest and experimental needs in the field of cardiac ECC.
