A newborn baby dies soon after birth because her diaphragm and rib cage muscles failed to contract and she was unable to breathe on her own.Examination of the baby's DNA revealed that she had a genetic mutation in a gene that encoded a calcium-binding protein.Which protein was most likely defective in the baby?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Troponin is a calcium-binding protein that plays a critical role in muscle contraction by regulating the interaction between actin and myosin. A mutation in the gene that encodes troponin could result in decreased binding of calcium and, consequently, impaired muscle contraction. This could explain the baby's inability to contract her diaphragm and rib cage muscles and breathe on her own.

A Newborn Baby Dies Soon After Birth Because Her Diaphragm