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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

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Assembly and Maintenance of Myofibrils in the Heart

Elisabeth Ehler1,2

  • 1Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biophysics, School of Basic and Medical Biosciences, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, King's College London, London, UK.

Cytoskeleton (Hoboken, N.J.)
|August 18, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Understanding myofibril assembly in heart and skeletal muscle is crucial. Recent advances in gene editing and microscopy offer new insights into the maintenance and turnover of these essential muscle structures.

Area of Science:

  • Muscle Biology
  • Cellular Dynamics
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • The precise assembly of actin and myosin into myofibrils in striated muscle (heart and skeletal) has long been a complex question in cell biology.
  • Previous models explaining myofibril assembly were primarily based on cultured cardiomyocytes and evaluated in vivo during embryonic heart development.
  • Recent studies utilize human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) for more relevant models.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the general principles governing myofibril assembly in the heart.
  • To discuss novel findings regarding the maintenance and turnover of myofibrils.
  • To highlight how technological advancements are enhancing our understanding.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature and models of myofibril assembly.
  • Evaluation of studies using in situ heart development and iPSC-CMs.
  • Incorporation of insights from recent gene editing and super-resolution microscopy techniques.

Main Results:

  • Established models of myofibril assembly have been refined through in vivo and iPSC-CM studies.
  • Gene editing and super-resolution microscopy enable more precise functional analysis.
  • New understanding is emerging regarding myofibril maintenance and turnover mechanisms.

Conclusions:

  • The assembly of myofibrils is a dynamic process refined by advanced research methodologies.
  • Future research directions will benefit from super-resolution microscopy and gene editing for functional insights.
  • This review synthesizes current knowledge and points towards future discoveries in muscle biology.

Keywords:
A‐bandI‐bandM‐bandZ‐disccardiomyocytemyofibrillogenesissarcomere

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