Dr. Barnett is an Associate Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology at the University of Minnesota. He has a BS in Biochemistry and Biophysics from Oregon State University. He earned his MS and PhD degrees in Biochemistry at the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Barnett’s work has focused on the physiological and biophysical basis of force generation and strain management in skeletal muscle. The force during muscle contraction is due to the cyclic interaction of the molecular motor protein myosin with actin filaments. The cytoskeletal protein titin is a mediator of strain in skeletal and cardiac myocytes. To this end, his studies have used a multi-disciplinary approach combining mechanical studies of muscle function with the biochemistry, spectroscopy, and microscopy necessary to understand the impact of changes at the molecular level on muscle physiology.
Dr. Barnett is interested in the relationship between the structures of proteins and their physiological functions. The intricate organization and interaction of proteins in muscles provides a unique system for the study of the coupling of chemical energy to mechanical work. The use of an integrative approach combining mechanical and biochemical data have helped relate molecular level information to the physiological responses of muscle tissues.
