Mechanisms of action of cardiogenic determinants of GATA4
Dr Branko Latinkic and his team at the University of Cardiff are developing new ways to study heart development. We don’t fully understand how the heart muscle forms, and it is difficult to study heart development in mammals because embryos develop inside their mother. Dr Latinkic is using two alternative models - one based on embryonic stem cells grown in the lab and one based on frog embryos. Embryonic stem cells are the body’s ‘master cells’, which have the potential to become cells of any organ or tissue in the body. In this project, Dr Latinkic will develop better methods to turn mouse and human embryonic stem cells into heart muscle cells. He will also use frog embryos, which are easily obtained and maintained in large numbers, to study how genes involved in making heart muscle cells work. Dr Latinkic will use both models to study how a key gene called GATA4 triggers stem cells to turn into heart muscle cells, and what specific parts of the GATA4 molecule are required to do this effectively. This research will inform us on how heart muscle development begins and will reveal better methods to make heart muscle cells from embryonic cells in the lab. It could uncover new ways to use these cells to repair or regenerate heart muscle following a heart attack.
Project details
| Grant amount | £239,496 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Project Grants |
| Application type | Project Grant |
| Start Date | 04 April 2016 |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Reference | PG/15/90/31796 |
| Status | Complete |
