Aayush Ojha
Department of Chemistry, University of Maine, USA
Publications
-
Research Article
Structural Rationale for Impaired Actin Regulation by the Cardiomyopathy-Associated R975W Metavinculin Variant: A Short Computational Communication
Author(s): Aayush Ojha*
Background: Cardiomyopathy-associated variants in the metavinculin-specific tail insert, including A934V, �??L954, and R975W, have been linked to defective regulation of vinculin-mediated F-actin assembly, but the molecular basis by which individual variants perturb mechanotransduction remains incompletely resolved. Purpose: This short computational communication focuses on R975W and frames it as a testable structural hypothesis for impaired metavinculin-actin regulation. Methods: A preliminary PyMOL-based structural comparison was used to inspect the wild-type metavinculin tail domain and an R975W mutant model, with attention to side-chain chemistry, surface shape, hydrophobicity, and the local actin-regulatory region. The observation was then interpreted using published work on vinculin/metavinculin actin organ.. Read More»