James M Ervasti

James M Ervasti is a Professor in the Department of Metabolic and Systems Biology at the University of Minnesota. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of muscular dystrophies, particularly investigating the structure and function of dystrophin and related proteins in skeletal muscle.

Dr. Ervasti's primary research interests include:

• Molecular basis of dystrophin function in muscle
• Actin cytoskeleton organization in muscle cells
• Mechanisms of muscular dystrophy pathogenesis
• Therapeutic approaches for Duchenne muscular dystrophy
• Structural biology of muscle proteins

His recent work has centered on understanding the structural determinants of dystrophin stability, the role of dystrophin in cytoskeletal organization, and metabolic consequences of dystrophin deficiency. Analysis of his publications reveals a consistent focus on dystrophin-actin interactions, with particular emphasis on protein conformation, molecular stability, and functional implications for muscle pathology. His research spans structural biology, mouse modeling, and biochemical approaches to address fundamental questions in muscle biology.

Dr. Ervasti has received significant research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and industry partners including Sarepta Therapeutics. His current projects investigate structural and molecular determinants of micro-dystrophin stability, cytoskeletal interactions of dystrophin, and costamere defects in muscular dystrophies.

His laboratory maintains active collaborations with researchers including David A. Lowe and Murali V. Salapaka on NIH-funded projects, and Joseph M. Muretta on industry-funded research. The fingerprint analysis of his work shows strong connections to key areas including Dystrophin (100%), Actin (68%), Skeletal Muscle (38%), and Duchenne muscular Dystrophy (26%).