Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
The laboratory of Dr. Christopher Yengo studies molecular motor and cytoskeletal proteins and their role in human disease. The lab is currently focused on myosin motors and the actin cytoskeleton. Biochemical, biophysical, and cell biological approaches are utilized to investigate basic molecular mechanisms of motor-based transport, contraction and organization of the actin cytoskeleton. In the long term, the Yengo lab hopes to develop therapeutic strategies for diseases that impact actomyosin-based functions.
The Yengo lab is studying inherited forms of heart disease caused by mutations in human beta-cardiac myosin, the molecular motor that drives contraction in the heart. The lab examines the impact of mutations and therapeutic drugs on the myosin ATPase mechanism, force generating properties and key structure-function relationships. A site-specific fluorescence labeling strategy was initially designed in myosin V and has allowed examination of how mutations disrupt important structural changes in the cardiac myosin ATPase cycle and how therapeutic drugs can reverse these effects. Other forms of heart failure are also being investigated, including diabetic and alcohol cardiomyopathy.
The Yengo lab is investigating the role of class III myosins in the formation and maintenance of actin based protrusions, such as filopodia, microvilli and stereocilia. There are two isoforms of class III myosins, Myo3A and Myo3B, encoded by separate genes. Class III myosins are unique in that they contain an N-terminal kinase domain, and Myo3A harbors point mutations associated with delayed onset deafness. The Yengo lab is investigating the role of class III myosins in the length maintenance of inner ear hair cell stereocilia as well motor transport within the stereocilia. The impact of the disease mutations on the regulation and function of Myo3A and the ability of Myo3B to compensate for the lack of Myo3A function is under investigation.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 1 Active
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Cardiac Myosin-Binding Protein C: Molecular Mechanisms Governing Cardiac Contractility
Warshaw, D. D. M., Yengo, C. & Sivaramakrishnan, S. S.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
6/1/20 → 5/31/24
Project: Research project
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A mutation in switch I alters the load-dependent kinetics of myosin Va
Marang, C., Scott, B., Chambers, J., Gunther, L. K., Yengo, C. M. & Debold, E. P., Dec 2023, In: Nature communications. 14, 1, 3137.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Biological Nanomotors with Linear, Rotation, or Revolution Motion Mechanism
Guo, P., Noji, H., Yengo, C. M., Zhao, Z. & Grainge, I., Jan 1 2023, Biomotors and their Nanobiotechnology Applications. CRC Press, p. 1-42 42 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Cardiac myosin motor deficits are associated with left ventricular dysfunction in human ischemic heart failure
Rasicci, D. V., Ge, J., Milburn, G. N., Wood, N. B., Pruznak, A. M., Lang, C. H., Previs, M. J., Campbell, K. S. & Yengo, C. M., Feb 1 2023, In: American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology. 324, 2, p. H198-H209Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Conformational changes linked to ADP release from human cardiac myosin bound to actin-tropomyosin
Doran, M. H., Rynkiewicz, M. J., Rasicci, D., Bodt, S. M. L., Barry, M. E., Bullitt, E., Yengo, C. M., Moore, J. R. & Lehman, W., Mar 6 2023, In: Journal of General Physiology. 155, 3, e202213267.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2 Scopus citations -
Myosin loop-4 is critical for optimal tropomyosin repositioning on actin during muscle activation and relaxation
Doran, M. H., Rynkiewicz, M. J., Pavadai, E., Bodt, S. M. L., Rasicci, D., Moore, J. R., Yengo, C. M., Bullitt, E. & Lehman, W., Feb 6 2023, In: Journal of General Physiology. 155, 2, e202213274.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access3 Scopus citations
Prizes
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Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
Hollins, L. Claire (Recipient), Nisnevitch-Savarese, Zoulfira (Recipient), Read, Selina (Recipient), Rossi, John (Recipient), Royo, Marc (Recipient), Sarraf, Elie (Recipient), Shah, Bunty (Recipient), Moldovan, George-Lucian (Recipient), van Riggelen, Jan (Recipient), Shantz, Lisa (Recipient), Yengo, Christopher (Recipient), Booth, Jennifer (Recipient), Bates, Erica (Recipient), Schuster, Angel (Recipient), Clebak, Karl (Recipient), Daniels, Eldra W. (Recipient), Hays, Amy (Recipient), Hemerly, Nathan (Recipient), Thompson, Andrew (Recipient), George, Daniel (Recipient), Evey, Loren (Recipient), McLaughlin, Patricia (Recipient), Acharya, Jayant (Recipient), De Jesus, Sol (Recipient), O'Leary, Amber (Recipient), Wright, Tonya (Recipient), Cantore, William (Recipient), Pantanelli, Seth (Recipient), Millard, Roberta (Recipient), Updegrove, Gary F. (Recipient), Choi, Karen (Recipient), Darowish, Charles (Recipient), Dooley, Amy (Recipient), Hackman, Nicole (Recipient), Krawiec, Conrad (Recipient), Oji-Mmuo, Christiana (Recipient), Ryan, Sheryl (Recipient), Shedlock, Aaron (Recipient), Tunks, Robert (Recipient), Critchfield, Laura (Recipient), Bellon, Alfredo (Recipient), Dougherty, Kathleen (Recipient), Lagman, Jasmin (Recipient), Mahgoub, Yassir (Recipient), Dreibelbis, Tomi (Recipient), Richie, John (Recipient), Wang, Li (Recipient), Methratta, Sosamma (Recipient), Chauvin, Nancy (Recipient), Deutsch, Michael (Recipient), Kulaylat, Afif (Recipient), Paulishak, Melody (Recipient), Staszak, Ryan (Recipient) & MacDonald, Susan (Recipient), 2022
Prize
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Distinguished Educator Award
Byler, Debra (Recipient), Joshi, Aditya (Recipient), McCall-Hosenfeld, Jennifer (Recipient) & Yengo, Christopher (Recipient), 2021
Prize