The Currie Group is researching the molecular mechanism that act to pattern the vertebrate embryo and to discover how different muscle cell types have evolved. They are particularly interested in how specific muscle cell types are determined within the developing embryo, how they grow and how they regenerate after injury.
For their research, the group use the Zebrafish as they model organism. Zebrafish are advantageous as study animals because their embryos are transparent. This allows scientists to observe the development of the internal structures from outside the living embryo.
Research
What the Currie Group aim to understand is how early embryonic cells become individual muscle cells later in development. To do this, they look at two types of muscle groups – the axial muscles, which form around the head and truck and the appendicular muscles (those that form the muscles of the fins).
Another component of their research looks at the stem cell ‘buddy stem’. In collaboration with researchers from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, The Currie Group were the first to identify what triggers haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) production. HSCs, which are found in the bone marrow and the umbilical cord, are important for replenishing the body’s supple of blood cells. What the group discovered is that the HSCs were formed with help from another type of cell – endotome cells.
- Uncovering how specific muscle cell types are determined within the developing embryo, how they grow and how they regenerate after injury.
- Understanding how early embryonic cells are specified to become individual muscle cells later in development.
- Concentrating on two different populations of differentiating muscles: those that form the muscles of the head and trunk (axial muscles) and those that generate the muscles of the fins (appendicular muscles)
- Mechanics of stem cell generation
Highlight publications
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Myo18b is essential for sarcomere assembly in fast skeletal muscle. Hum Mol Genet. 2017 Mar 15;26(6):1146-1156. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddx025. |
Myo18b is essential for sarcomere assembly in fast skeletal muscle. |
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A somitic contribution to the apical ectodermal ridge is essential for fin formation. Nature. 2016 Jul 28;535(7613):542-6. |
A somitic contribution to the apical ectodermal ridge is essential for fin formation. |
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Asymmetric division of clonal muscle stem cells coordinates muscle regeneration in vivo. Science. 2016 May 19. pii: aad9969. [Epub ahead of print] |
Asymmetric division of clonal muscle stem cells coordinates muscle regeneration in vivo. |
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Development of the Synarcual in the Elephant Sharks (Holocephali; Chondrichthyes): Implications for Vertebral Formation and Fusion. PLoS One; 2015 Sep 4;10(9):e0135138. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135138. eCollection 2015. |
Development of the Synarcual in the Elephant Sharks (Holocephali; Chondrichthyes): Implications for Vertebral Formation and Fusion. |
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Zebrafish models for nemaline myopathy reveal a spectrum of nemaline bodies contributing to reduced muscle function. Acta Neuropathol; 2015 Sep;130(3):389-406. doi: 10.1007/s00401-015-1430-3. Epub 2015 May 1. |
Zebrafish models for nemaline myopathy reveal a spectrum of nemaline bodies contributing to reduced muscle function. |
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Rapamycin increases neuronal survival, reduces inflammation and astrocyte proliferation after spinal cord injury. Mol Cell Neurosci; 2015 Apr 30;68:82-91. doi: 10.1016/j.mcn.2015.04.006. [Epub ahead of print] |
Rapamycin increases neuronal survival, reduces inflammation and astrocyte proliferation after spinal cord injury. |
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Novel transgenic lines to label sarcolemma and myofibrils of the musculature. Zebrafish; 2015 Feb;12(1):124-5. doi: 10.1089/zeb.2014.1065. Epub 2015 Jan 2. |
Novel transgenic lines to label sarcolemma and myofibrils of the musculature. |
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Skeletal myogenesis in the zebrafish and its implications for muscle disease modelling. Results Probl Cell Differ. 2015;56:49-76. doi: 10.1007/978-3-662-44608-9_3. |
Skeletal myogenesis in the zebrafish and its implications for muscle disease modelling. |
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Decreased anti-regenerative effects after spinal cord injury in spry4-/- mice. . Neuroscience. 2015 Feb 26;287:104-12. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.12.020. Epub 2014 Dec 22 |
Decreased anti-regenerative effects after spinal cord injury in spry4-/- mice. . |
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Capture, transport, and husbandry of elephant sharks (Callorhinchus milii) adults, eggs, and hatchlings for research and display. Zoo Biol; 2015 Jan-Feb;34(1):94-8. doi: 10.1002/zoo.21183. Epub 2014 Nov 14. |
Capture, transport, and husbandry of elephant sharks (Callorhinchus milii) adults, eggs, and hatchlings for research and display. |
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Loss of Tropomodulin4 in the zebrafish mutant träge causes cytoplasmic rod formation and muscle weakness reminiscent of nemaline myopathy. Dis Model Mech; 2014 Dec;7(12):1407-15. doi: 10.1242/dmm.017376. Epub 2014 Oct 2. |
Loss of Tropomodulin4 in the zebrafish mutant träge causes cytoplasmic rod formation and muscle weakness reminiscent of nemaline myopathy. |
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Haematopoietic stem cell induction by somite-derived endothelial cells controlled by meox1. Nature; 2014 Aug 21;512(7514):314-8. doi: 10.1038/nature13678. Epub 2014 Aug 13. |
Haematopoietic stem cell induction by somite-derived endothelial cells controlled by meox1. |
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Fgf2 improves functional recovery-decreasing gliosis and increasing radial glia and neural progenitor cells after spinal cord injury. Brain Behav. 2014 Mar;4(2):187-200. doi: 10.1002/brb3.172. Epub 2014 Jan 13. |
Fgf2 improves functional recovery-decreasing gliosis and increasing radial glia and neural progenitor cells after spinal cord injury. |
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Low-cost silicone imaging casts for zebrafish embryos and larvae. Zebrafish. 2014 Feb;11(1):26-31. doi: 10.1089/zeb.2013.0897. Epub 2013 Nov 15. |
Low-cost silicone imaging casts for zebrafish embryos and larvae. |
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A myogenic precursor cell that could contribute to regeneration in zebrafish and its similarity to the satellite cell. FEBS J. 2013 Sep;280(17):4074-88. doi: 10.1111/febs.12300. Epub 2013 May 24. |
A myogenic precursor cell that could contribute to regeneration in zebrafish and its similarity to the satellite cell. |
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Development and evolution of the muscles of the pelvic fin. PLoS Biol. 2011 Oct;9(10):e1001168. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001168. Epub 2011 Oct 4. |
Development and evolution of the muscles of the pelvic fin. |
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Animal models of human disease: zebrafish swim into view. Nat Rev Genet. 2007 May;8(5):353-67. |
Animal models of human disease: zebrafish swim into view. |
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Whole-somite rotation generates muscle progenitor cell compartments in the developing zebrafish embryo. Dev Cell. 2007 Feb;12(2):207-19. |
Whole-somite rotation generates muscle progenitor cell compartments in the developing zebrafish embryo. |
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Developmentally restricted actin-regulatory molecules control morphogenetic cell movements in the zebrafish gastrula. Curr Biol. 2004 Sep 21;14(18):1632-8. |
Developmentally restricted actin-regulatory molecules control morphogenetic cell movements in the zebrafish gastrula. |
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Cadherin-mediated differential cell adhesion controls slow muscle migration in the developing zebrafish myotome. Dev Cell. 2003 Dec;5(6):865-76. |
Cadherin-mediated differential cell adhesion controls slow muscle migration in the developing zebrafish myotome. |
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Evolutionary origins of vertebrate appendicular muscle. Nature. 2000 Nov 2;408(6808):82-6. |
Evolutionary origins of vertebrate appendicular muscle. |