Dawn Lowe, PhD

Dr. Lowe's laboratory investigates cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle deterioration that occur with age, injury, and disease. We are particularly interested in how the loss of estradiol causes muscle weakness and impaired regeneration of injured muscles. Our studies point toward the deterioration of myosin function and satellite cells as two of the culprits. We are highly collaborative in muscular dystrophy research having published with eight other UMN muscle biologists. Our studies often have a flavor of exercise science and preventative medicine as well as rehabilitation. Trainee research experiences are enriched by the collaborative nature of our work that intersects muscle research from fields of biochemistry, physiology, biophysics, engineering, molecular and stem cell biology, pathology, endocrinology, immunology, and bone biology.

Research Funding Grants

• NIH, R01 AG031743-16
  Interaction of Estrogen, Age and Activity on Musculoskeletal Strength in Females
  Project period 07/15/2024 - 06/30/2029
• NIH, R01 AG062899-5 (MPI with Michael Kyba)
  Dissecting Effects of Estrogen Deficiency on Satellite Cells on Muscle Regeneration in Females and Males
  Project period 09/30/2019 - 05/31/2025
• NIH, R01 AR082533-2 (MPI with Thomas and Rebbeck)
  Skeletal muscle protein structural dynamics and function drive applications to drug discovery
  Project period 05/01/2019 - 04/30/2028
• NIH, T32 AG029767-17 (MPI with Arriaga and Niedernhofer)
  Functional Multi-omics of Aging training grant
  Project period 05/01/2019-04/30/2028
• NIH, T32 AR007612-23 (MPI with Ervasti and Thomas)
  Minnesota Muscle Training Program
  Project period 05/01/2022-04/30/2027

Publications

2024:
Li, Y., N. Baig, D. Roncancio, K. Elbein, D.A. Lowe, M. Kyba, and E. Arriaga. Multiparametric Identification of Putative Senescent Cells in Skeletal Muscle via Mass Cytometry. Cytometry: Part A. July 2024. doi: 10.1002/cyto.a.24853 (Online ahead of print). PMID 38995093.
 

Sullivan, B.P., B.C. Collins, S.L. McMillin, E. Toussaint, C.Z. Stein, E.E. Spangenburg, and D.A. Lowe. Ablation of skeletal muscle estrogen receptor alpha impairs contractility in male mice. J. Appl. Physiol. 136; 764-773. PMID 38328824. PMC11286273.

2023:
Gilmer, G., Z. Hettinger, Y. Tuakli-Wosornu, E. Skidmore, J. Silver, R.C. Thurston, D.A. Lowe, and F. Ambrosio. Female aging: when translational models don’t translate. Nature Aging. 12: 1500-1508. PMID 38052933. PMC11099540.
 

Baumann, C.W., C.S. Deane, T. Etheridge, N.J. Szewczyk, C.R.G. Willis, and D.A. Lowe. Adaptability to Eccentric Exercise Training is Diminished with Age in Female Mice. J. Appl. Physiol. 135:1135-1145. PMID 37823203. PMC10979833.

Peyton, M.P., Y. Tzu-Yi, L. Higgins, T.W. Markowski, C. Murray, K., Vue, L.L. Parker, and D.A. Lowe. Natural aging and ovariectomy induces parallel phosphoproteomic alterations in skeletal muscle of female mice. Aging. 15: 7362-7380. PMID 37580837. PMC10457050.
 

Le, G., C.W. Baumann, G.L. Warren, and D.A. Lowe. In vivo potentiation of muscle torque is enhanced in female mice through estradiol-estrogen receptor signaling. J. Appl. Physiol. 134(3):722-730. PMID 36735234. PMC10027088.

2022:
Peyton, M.P., Y. Tzu-Yi, L. Higgins, T.W. Markowski, C. Vue, L.L. Parker, and D.A. Lowe. Global phosphoproteomic profiling of skeletal muscle in ovarian-hormone deficient mice. Physiol. Genomics 54 (11): 417-432. PMID 36062884. PMC9639773.
 

Norton A., K. Thieu, C.W. Baumann, D.A. Lowe, and K.C. Mansky. Estrogen regulation of myokines that enhance osteoclast differentiation and activity. Sci. Rep. 12:15900. PMID 36151243. PMC9508086.
 

Larson, A.A., A.S. Shams, S.L. McMillin, B.P. Sullivan, C. Vue, Z.A. Roloff, E. Batchelor, M. Kyba, and D.A. Lowe. Estradiol deficiency reduces the satellite cell pool by impairing cell cycle progression. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 322:C1123-C1137. PMID 35442828. PMC9169829.
 

Baumann, C.W., C.P. Ingalls, and D.A. Lowe. Mechanisms of weakness in Mdx muscle following in vivo eccentric contractions. J Muscle Res Cell Motility 43:63-72. PMID 35445349.
 

Lin, Y., J. Nhieu, P. Liu, G. Le, D.J. Lee, C. Wei, Y. Lin, S. Oh, D.A. Lowe, Li. Wei. CRABP1-CaMKII-Agrn regulates the maintenance of neuromuscular junction in spinal motor neuron. Cell Death Differ. 29:1744-1756. PMID 35217789. PMC9433400.
 

McMillin, S. E. Minchew, D.A. Lowe, and E.E. Spangenburg. Skeletal Muscle Wasting: The Estrogen Side of Sexual Dimorphism. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 322:C24-C37. PMID 34788147. PMC8721895.
 

Sidky, S.R., C.P. Ingalls, D.A. Lowe, and C.W. Baumann. Membrane Proteins Increase with the Repeated Bout Effect. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 54:57-66. PMID: 34334717. PMC8678180.