Identifying the role of Lox during muscle regeneration
We have previously demonstrated that Lox acts as a regulator of embryonic myogenesis (Liora’s paper). However Lox is also implicated in muscle dystrophies such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, the most common congenital lethal disease affecting young boys. Altogether, our results and those implicating Lox in muscle diseases suggest it is an important player in muscle development and function. To better dissect its roles, we are monitoring muscle regeneration as we find Lox to be expressed by multiple cells within the regenerating muscle. Using the Cre/flox system, we can delete or over-express Lox in the distinct cells that make up the muscle and dissect its specific roles in a cell-type specific manner.
