RNA-seq of cardiac-specific Cdk1 knockout mice at 4 days after experimental myocardial infarction
Biological Relevance and Intent of the Experiment: The objective of this study is to elucidate the role of Cdk1 in cardiac function, specifically its contribution to cardiomyocyte (CM) proliferation and response to injury. Using a heart-specific Cdk1 knockout mouse model, we investigate the molecular and cellular impact of Cdk1 deficiency in the context of myocardial infarction (MI). Cdk1 is known for its regulatory functions in cell cycle progression, and its absence may significantly affect cardiac repair mechanisms post-MI. This research aims to explore whether the lack of Cdk1 impairs CM regeneration or promotes maladaptive remodeling, leading to compromised cardiac function.  Overview of the Experimental Workflow: We performed RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) on heart tissue collected from both wild-type (WT) and cardiac-specific Cdk1 knockout mice subjected to experimental MI. Heart samples were collected 4 days to capture dynamic transcriptional changes associated with Cdk1 loss. Comparative transcriptomic analysis between WT and knockout samples will reveal differentially expressed genes and signaling pathways involved in cardiomyocyte proliferation, apoptosis, and fibrosis. These insights may uncover key pathways driving heart regeneration or degeneration in the absence of Cdk1.