The goal of this project was to understand how a mutation of tropomyosin (R160A) impacts the muscle contraction process. In the resting state, tropomyosin blocks the binding site of myosin on actin filament and the question was asked of how the mutation might impact the binding of the two filaments. Mathematical models can be used to predict the results of muscle contraction with this mutation, after fitting the model to data provided by The Moore Lab at UMass Lowell. The results from the MATLAB code were used to conclude that the mutation of tropomyosin affects the degree of regulation, r, but does not affect the coupling number, N. Studying gene mutations in muscle and their impact on the contraction process can provide beneficial information for research into diseases caused by gene mutations.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Cole, Elizabeth

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 107511
• E-project-050123-165622

Advisor

• Walcott, Sam

Year

• 2023

Date created

• 2023-05-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mathematical Sciences

Source

• E-project-050123-165622

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2023-06-15