Elucidating the diverse molecular roles of Z-disk proteins in muscle

Inherited skeletal myopathies are muscle diseases characterised by muscle wasting and movement difficulties. Currently, many myopathy patients do not have a genetic diagnosis and for those that do have a diagnosis, we do not understand why these genes are important for muscle function. In this thesis, I analyse one candidate myopathy gene and two known myopathy genes using zebrafish as a model system. Evaluation of these zebrafish models provides insight into the role of these genes in the muscle and identifies potential therapeutic targets for skeletal myopathy.