Michael B. Ferrari
Associate Professor, MBB
Ph.D. University of Texas-Austin
Office: 209 BSB
Phone: (816) 235-5313
E-mail: FerrariM
Laboratory Web Site
Research Areas
Calcium signal dynamics in developing muscle, physiological regulation of pattern formation and macromolecular assembly, regulation of calcium-dependent kinases.
Current Interests
"Deciphering the signals used for both macromolecular assembly and tissue morphogenesis are important biological problems, and embryonic muscle is an excellent system for studying both problems - the former in culture and the latter in vivo. In striated muscle, proteins are organized into one of the most complex and highly ordered macromolecular assemblies known - the myofibril. The myofibril is not only inherently interesting as the end effector of the muscle cell, but is also the ultimate site of degeneration resulting in functional impairments in myopathies. Currently, work is focused on calcium signals and their effectors which control myofibrillogenesis. Primarily, high resolution digital and confocal fluorescence microscopy approaches, including quantitative calcium imaging and visualization of GFP-tagged proteins, are used in conjunction with pharmacological, biochemical, and molecular tools. We are also studying the role of calcium signals in regulating somite formation during embryogenesis. In the living embryo, calcium dynamics show complex spatiotemporal patterns and clustering that correspond to future somitic furrows, and blocking calcium signaling disrupts somite development. Future plans include examination of zebrafish muscle mutants and investigation of mechanisms controlling the muscle to electrocyte conversion in electric organ."
Research Support
This work is supported by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.
