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Name:	Grace K. Pavlath
Position:	Professor of Pharmacology
Degree:	Ph.D., Stanford University, 1985
Programs:	BCDB, Full Member GMB, Full Member
Phone:	404 727-3353
Address:	5027 O.W. Rollins, 1510 Clifton Rd, 1940-001-1AF
Email:	gpavlat@emory.edu
Website:	http://www.pharm.emory.edu/gpavlath/
Research Descriptions:
Short:	Adult stem cells, skeletal muscle growth and repair, signal transduction.
Long:	Adequate muscle mass is vital for human health. Loss of muscle results in weakness and impaired mobility and/or breathing, severely impacting on the quality of life. Such muscle loss occurs in diseases such as cancer or neuromuscular disorders, prolonged bed rest, injury and during human aging. We work to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which muscle size is controlled. A combination of molecular, cellular, biochemical, in vitro and in vivo approaches are used in my laboratory. We are especially interested in studying the stem cells within adult muscles that are necessary for muscle growth and repair. These studies will ultimately lead to therapies to prevent muscle wasting and enhance muscle repair and growth in disease, injury and aging. Our research focuses on 4 main areas: (1) Myogenic stem cells. Muscle tissue is composed of bundles of multinucleated myofibers. Underneath the basal lamina that surrounds each myofiber are satellite cells, myogenic stem cells that are responsible for normal muscle growth and regeneration. Satellite cells are normally quiescent but re-enter the cell cycle and proliferate in response to growth factors. These proliferating cells, or myoblasts, undergo differentiation and then migrate to fuse with each other or with existing myofibers. We study the molecular mechanisms that regulate satellite cell behavior. Current projects deal with the regulation of satellite cell fate, proliferation, migration, differentiation, and fusion. (2)Regulation of nuclear transport. Very few cells in the body are multinucleated. Myofibers contain hundreds of nuclei but how nuclear entry and exit of proteins and mRNA are coordinated among these nuclei is unknown. In collaboration with Dr. Anita Corbett's lab we are studying the regulation of nuclear transport in multinucleated muscle cells. (3) RNA binding proteins and muscular dystrophy. We are studying how mutations in a nuclear RNA binding protein called PABPN1 lead to a muscle disease called oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy that specifically affects muscles of the eye and pharynx (swallowing muscles). (4) Muscle growth and repair. Widely divergent stimuli can lead to loss of muscle. Current projects investigate the cellular processes and molecular signals by which muscle growth is regulated in vivo. These studies are important for developing effective pharmacologic or genetic therapies to enhance muscle growth.