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Emerging roles for myoglobin in the heart
Daniel J Garry1, Shane B Kanatous, Pradeep P A Mammen
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-8573, USA. daniel.garry@utsouthwestern.edu
Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine
|April 15, 2003
Summary
Myoglobin (Mb) is a protein in muscle. Studies using mice without Mb suggest it has diverse roles in the heart, beyond oxygen transport.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Muscle Physiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Myoglobin (Mb) is a hemoprotein primarily found in cardiac and skeletal muscle.
- Physiologic studies suggest Mb facilitates oxygen transport or acts as an oxygen reservoir.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the diverse functions of Myoglobin in the heart.
- To utilize transgenic mouse models to understand Mb's role in cardiovascular biology.
Main Methods:
- Generation of transgenic mice lacking Myoglobin.
- Physiologic and pharmacologic studies on these mouse models.
Main Results:
- Studies using Myoglobin-deficient mice indicate multiple, diverse functions of Mb in the heart.
- Evidence suggests Mb's role extends beyond simple oxygen transport or storage.
Conclusions:
- Myoglobin plays multifaceted roles in cardiac function.
- Emerging technologies like gene disruption will further elucidate Mb's cardiovascular functions.