Myolab

About

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Myolab

Myolab is a research laboratory in the Department of Health Sciences at William & Mary. Our interests are in Muscle Physiology & Molecular Biophysics.

Myo- is the greek prefix meaning muscle which forms the basis for many muscle related terms in physiology: myocyte (a muscle cell), myofilament (sarcomere components), and of course, myosin (the motor protein in muscle). Therefore, the lab’s main research questions are anything myo-related!

Papers

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Myolab Publications:

2026

Phosphate release from myosin Va occurs after the initial powerstroke but before the secondary powerstroke associated with ADP-release. Journal of Biological Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2026.113303

2025

The order of things: phosphate release or the power stroke, which does actomyosin do first?. Frontiers in Physiology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2025.1692606

Techniques

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

From single molecule to whole muscle

Myolab uses a multi-scale biophysical approach to study skeletal and cardiac muscle physiology in health and disease. The following are the experimental techniques we use to understand various aspects of muscle contraction, arranged from smallest -> largest biological level.

Single-molecule optical trapping

We use single-molecule optical trapping with the “3-bead” geometry to measure the forces generated by individual proteins of the muscle in an isolated and highly controlled in vitro system. For example, with this technique, we can measure the distance a single myosin molecule moves an actin filament each ATPase cycle, which is about 5 nanometers and generates ~1 piconewton of force. We have an Impetux SENSOCELL optical trapping system.

The Myolab is Born

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

On August 10, 2025, Brent started as faculty at the College of William & Mary. This marks the first official day of the Myolab.

Myolab is under construction

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This site, as well as the lab, is currently under construction. Please check back soon for more updates.

Showcase

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

This article offers a sample of basic Markdown syntax that can be used in Hugo content files, also it shows whether basic HTML elements are decorated with CSS in a Hugo theme.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Interested in joining the Myolab?

Please fill out the Myolab Interest Form here.

There are many fanstasic research labs within the Health Science Department that you should consider as well.

Brent Scott

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Brent is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at William & Mary. He teaches courses in Human Health & Physiology and is the principal investigator of the Myolab.

He was an Exercise Science major at Belmont University (Nashville, TN) before completing his MS and PhD in Kinesiology at UMass Amherst. After graduate school, he completed a post-doctoral research fellowship in Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics at WashU School of Medicine in St. Louis.