11/01/2024
By Danielle Fretwell

The Francis College of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering & Biotechnology, invites you to attend a Doctoral Dissertation Proposal defense by Varun Dhorajia on: Molecular determinants of masticatory myosin’s force-velocity properties

Candidate Name: Varun Dhorajia
Degree: Doctoral
Defense Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Time: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Location: Southwick Hall, Room 240

Committee:
Advisor: Jeffrey Moore, Professor, Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Committee Members*
Nicolai Konow, Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Matthew Gage, Associate Professor, Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Peter Gaines, Professor, Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Edward Ned Debold, Professor, Kinesiology, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Brief Abstract:
Some vertebrate jaw-closing muscles exhibit extraordinarily fast and strong bite performance that has been linked to the expression of a specialized masticatory myosin (MHC-M). Traditionally, this has been attributed to the assumption that MHC-M’s molecular properties drive the speed and strength of these muscles. However, this interpretation oversimplifies muscle function, overlooking the complex hierarchy of components like sarcomeres, fascicles, and muscle leverage, that also influence muscle performance. Indeed, my preliminary data argues that contrary to previously made claims, MHC-M is a slow myosin. Therefore, to better understand its molecular properties, I propose a more direct approach to measure MHC-M force and velocity using biophysical assays that mimic muscle behavior on a microscale. This proposal will also decipher the structural features of MHC-M that may dictate its in-vivo force and velocity properties, providing a more accurate understanding of its role in jaw muscle performance.