Experiment

Myo Lab, an experiment to investigate mechanism of muscle atrophy, completed

* All times are Japan Standard Time (JST)

Cbl-Mediated Protein Ubiquitination Downregulates the Response of Skeletal Muscle Cells to Growth Factors in Space (Myo Lab)*, which has been performed from ten days ago using the Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) in Kibo, was successfully completed.

Principal Investigator (PI): Takeshi Nikawa, Professor of University of Tokushima

Experiment samples were launched to the ISS aboard the space shuttle Discovery (STS-131 Mission) on April 5, 2010. At 7:14 p.m. on April 10, the experiment began with commands sent from the Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC).

This experiment tries to determine the mechanism of muscle atrophy focusing on the Cbl-b enzyme.

Aboard Kibo, rat cells were cultured at 37 degree Celsius in both the microgravity compartment and in the 1G compartment of the CBEF. On Day 8 (April 18), a substance to stimulate muscle growth (growth factor) was added to both groups. On Day 10 (April 20), fixative solution was added to both groups, and the samples collected from both groups were frozen for recovery to the ground.

The team will try to determine if action of muscle growth factor is interfered by Cbl-b, and if it triggers muscle atrophy.

The frozen samples will be returned to the ground for gene and protein analyses to determine the mechanism of Cbl-b-induced muscle atrophy. Roles of Cbl-b in muscle atrophy will be clarified through this experiment. The information can be applied to medical treatment for muscle atrophy and bedridden people (by aging and disease), as well as countermeasures for muscle atrophy in astronauts.

The samples will be returned to the ground aboard the space shuttle Atlantis (STS-132 mission).

Microscopic image of the samples (μG )

Special Message from Principal Investigator (PI)

I would like to express my gratitude to ISS crew members, ground teams, the project team members and others who have supported the project. The in-flight protocol of Myo Lab was successfully completed. The team will analyze the samples hoping that our experiment result will benefit to people on Earth. I hope that the Myo Lab experiment will yield fruitful results.

*All times are Japan Standard Time (JST)