Telephone: (301) 496-1865

E-mail: mailto:adelster@nhlbi.nih.gov

Office: Building 10, Room 8N202

Mailing Address:
Laboratory of Molecular Cardiology 

• Myosin IIB knockout mice 
• Myocyte hypertrophy 
• Hypomorphic brain defects

Our laboratory studies the function of vertebrate non-muscle myosin II, including II_A and II_B. Our recent work focuses on the effects of ablating and decreasing the amount of non-muscle myosin II_B and II_A in mice. We have found that ablation as well as reductions of the II_B gene product leads to defects in the mouse heart and brain including cardiac myocyte hypertrophy and hydrocephalus. Presently, we are studying the mechanisms that are responsible for these pathological changes. We are also looking at the effect of ablating non-muscle myosin II_A on mouse development and on cellular processes.  These knockout mice die as early as E6.0.