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Friday, March 16, 2012

An Amazing Opportunity (AAAEB 2012) by Jameel Shareef

Time is really flying. Can you believe that the year is almost over? Only 9 weeks left in the school year. For us 2nd years there is still so much work to be done. On the research track most have completed data collection for their respective projects while others are finishing up experiments. Many of us have started writing our thesis papers, (or we have at least thought about it), and others are preparing posters to be presented at various conventions such as the American Association of Anatomists Experimental Biology (AAAEB) Conference in San Diego. This year, I am excited to have the opportunity to do just that.

At this year’s AAAEB conference, I will be presenting my project which is titled “The In Vivo Reorganization of Laminin in Relation to α1 Integrin in Chick Skeletal Muscle.” This project has involved studying the arrangement of an extracellular matrix protein called laminin that plays a key role in the development of skeletal muscle in embryonic chicks. Laminin is a heterotrimeric, (composed of 3 subunits (α, β and γ)), protein that is a major component of the basement membrane, which is an extracellular matrix material that coats most cells in the body. Laminins work with Integrins, which are heterodimeric (composed of 2 subunits (α and β)) cellular transmembrane receptor proteins, to anchor cells to the basement membrane. Deficiencies in the Laminins and or Integrins that are involved in the development and organization of skeletal muscle have been known to result in muscular dystrophies. The specific Laminin to Integrin combination involved determines type of muscular dystrophy. In previous work, Alpha-1 (α1) Integrin was found to reorganize in chick skeletal muscle from a punctate (spotty) distribution to one that is more periodic (occurring at intervals) within the muscle sarcomere. Prior to hatching, α1 distribution becomes punctate again and eventually disperses to a point where it is no longer visible with immunohistochemical staining. The function of α1 integrin is unknown, but its reorganization during the gestation period is thought to indicate a structural role in muscle development. Previous In Vitro studies have established a linkage between the spatial and temporal reorganization of α1 and the localization of Laminin. The purpose of my study is to determine if that same relationship occurs In Vivo.

I am genuinely looking forward to attending the AAAEB conference next month. The opportunity to not only share my work but to learn about other potentially revolutionary studies is exciting. I have learned so much this year and I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience.