BPoD has moved!

BPoD has recently changed our domain name - we can now be found at bpod.org.uk

Please update your bookmarks!

Now in our 13th year of bringing you beautiful imagery from biomedical science every day

Search the archive of over 4000 images

Muscle Power
16 February 2017

Muscle Power

Muscles are the powerhouses of the human body. To take just a single step, around 200 of your muscles will be put to work. The disease FSHD targets these powerhouses, weakening them to the point that a fifth of patients end up wheelchair bound. The disease is caused by the inappropriate presence of the protein DUX4. Researchers investigated what DUX4 is up to in developing muscle cells from humans (pictured) and mice. Normally these cells turn into mature muscle cells bearing the muscle proteins myogenin (green), desmin (red) and myosin heavy chain (grey). Increasing the amount of DUX4 in these developing cells increased the levels of an enzyme called Ret. Ret stopped the cells developing into mature muscle. Adding a drug to block the activity of Ret allowed these cells to mature normally. This drug may therefore someday be useful in treating FSHD.

Written by Lux Fatimathas

Search The Archive

Submit An Image

Follow on Tumblr

Follow on Instagram

What is BPoD?

BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

Read More

BPoD is also available in Catalan at www.bpod.cat with translations by the University of Valencia.