Alternative splicing results in the biodiversity of proteins that can be encoded by the genome in eukaryotes, and approximately 95% of multi-exonic genes are alternatively spliced. For this reason, alternative splicing is tightly regulated in different tissues and developmental stages and its disruption can lead to a wide range of human and animal disorders. Muscle is one of the first tissues which undergoes alternative splicing. Muscle-specific alternative splicing is related to muscle development, function and diseases, but the splicing mechanism is far less understood. Therefore, my research aims to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying muscle development and regeneration, and heart diseases. Success in my proposed research will advance our understanding of the molecular basis of muscle regeneration and heart diseases, and foster the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies of heart diseases
