scholarly journals The mammalian 43-kD acetylcholine receptor-associated protein (RAPsyn) is expressed in some nonmuscle cells.

1989 ◽  
Vol 108 (5) ◽  
pp. 1833-1840 ◽  
Author(s):  
L S Musil ◽  
D E Frail ◽  
J P Merlie

Torpedo electric organ and vertebrate neuromuscular junctions contain the receptor-associated protein of the synapse (RAPsyn) (previously referred to as the 43K protein), a nonactin, 43,000-Mr peripheral membrane protein associated with the cytoplasmic face of postsynaptic membranes at areas of high nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) density. Although not directly demonstrated, several lines of evidence suggest that RAPsyn is involved in the synthesis and/or maintenance of such AChR clusters. Microscopic and biochemical studies had previously indicated that RAPsyn expression is restricted to differentiated, AChR-synthesizing cells. Our recent finding that RAPsyn is also produced in undifferentiated myocytes (Frail, D.E., L.S. Musil, a. Bonanno, and J.P. Merlie, 1989. Neuron. 2:1077-1086) led to to examine whether RAPsyn is synthesized in cell types that never express AChR (i.e., cells of other than skeletal muscle origin). Various primary and established rodent cell lines were metabolically labeled with [35S]methionine, and extracts were immunoprecipitated with a monospecific anti-RAPsyn serum. Analysis of these immunoprecipitates by SDS-PAGE revealed detectable RAPsyn synthesis in some (notably fibroblast and Leydig tumor cell lines and primary cardiac cells) but not all (hepatocyte- and lymphocyte-derived) cell types. These results were further substantiated by peptide mapping studies of RAPsyn immunoprecipitated from different cells and quantitation of RAPsyn-encoding mRNA levels in mouse tissues. RAPsyn synthesized in both muscle and nonmuscle cells was shown to be tightly associated with membranes. These findings demonstrate that RAPsyn is not specific to skeletal muscle-derived cells and imply that it may function in a capacity either in addition to or instead of AChR clustering.

1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 4547-4551
Author(s):  
M W Renshaw ◽  
M A Capozza ◽  
J Y Wang

The mammalian c-abl proto-oncogene produces mRNAs with 5' heterogeneity from two distinct promoters and the alternative splicing of variable 5' exons. By using quantitative RNase protection assays, the relative abundance of two major c-abl mRNAs, type I and type IV, in several mouse tissues and cell lines has been determined. Our results demonstrate that the level of type IV c-abl mRNA is rather constant, whereas that of the type I mRNA varies over a 10-fold range in different tissues and cell types. This finding has interesting implications for the function of the two c-abl proteins.


1998 ◽  
Vol 275 (4) ◽  
pp. C988-C994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward C. Kim ◽  
Yingting Zhu ◽  
Valerie Andersen ◽  
Daniela Sciaky ◽  
H. James Cao ◽  
...  

We investigated prostanoid biogenesis in human colonic fibroblasts (CCD-18Co and 5 primary fibroblast cultures) and epithelial cell lines (NCM460, T84, HT-29, and LS 174T) and the effect of PGE2 on fibroblast morphology. Cytokine-stimulated PGE2production was measured. PGH synthase-1 and -2 (PGHS-1 and -2) protein and mRNA expression were evaluated. Basal PGE2 levels were low in all cell types (0.15–6.47 ng/mg protein). Treatment for 24 h with interleukin-1β (IL-1β; 10 ng/ml) or tumor necrosis factor-α (50 ng/ml), respectively, elicited maximal 25- and 6-fold inductions of PGE2 synthesis in CCD-18Co cultures and similar results in primary fibroblast cultures; maximal inductions with IL-1β in colonic epithelial cell lines were from zero to fivefold. Treatment of CCD-18Co fibroblasts with IL-1β caused maximal 21- and 53-fold increases, respectively, in PGHS-2 protein and mRNA levels without altering PGHS-1 expression. PGE2 (0.1 μmol/l) elicited a dramatic shape change in selected fibroblasts. Colonic fibroblasts are potentially important as cytokine targets and a source of and target for colonic prostanoids in vivo.


1998 ◽  
Vol 85 (5) ◽  
pp. 1903-1908 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald R. Gomes ◽  
Frank W. Booth

We examined the age-related association in skeletal muscle between atrophy and expression of mRNAs encoding both the γ-subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR), and myogenin, a transcription factor that upregulates expression of the γ-subunit promoter. Gastrocnemius and biceps brachii muscles were collected from young (2-mo-old), adult (18-mo-old), and old (31-mo-old) Fischer 344/Brown Norway F1 generation cross male rats. In the gastrocnemius muscles of old vs. young and adult rats, lower muscle mass was accompanied by significantly elevated AChR γ-subunit and myogenin mRNA levels. In contrast, the biceps brachii muscle exhibited neither atrophy nor as drastic a change in AChR γ-subunit and myogenin mRNA levels with age. Expression of the AChR ε-subunit mRNA did not change with age in either gastrocnemius or biceps brachii muscles. Thus changes in skeletal muscle AChR γ-subunit and myogenin mRNA levels may be more related to atrophy than to chronological age in old rats.


2008 ◽  
Vol 104 (4) ◽  
pp. 1154-1160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carsten Lundby ◽  
Ylva Hellsten ◽  
Mie B. F. Jensen ◽  
Anders S. Munch ◽  
Henriette Pilegaard

The presence and potential physiological role of the erythropoietin receptor (Epo-R) were examined in human skeletal muscle. In this study we demonstrate that Epo-R is present in the endothelium, smooth muscle cells, and in fractions of the sarcolemma of skeletal muscle fibers. To study the potential effects of Epo in human skeletal muscle, two separate studies were conducted: one to study the acute effects of a single Epo injection on skeletal muscle gene expression and plasma hormones and another to study the effects of long-term (14 wk) Epo treatment on skeletal muscle structure. Subjects ( n = 11) received a single Epo injection of 15,000 IU (double blinded, cross over, placebo). A single Epo injection reduced myoglobin and increased transferrin receptor and MRF-4 mRNA content within 10 h after injection. Plasma hormones remained unaltered. Capillarization and fiber hypertrophy was studied in subjects ( n = 8) who received long-term Epo administration, and muscle biopsies were obtained before and after. Epo treatment did not alter mean fiber area (0.84 ± 0.2 vs. 0.72 ± 0.3 mm2), capillaries per fiber (4.3 ± 0.5 vs. 4.4 ± 1.3), or number of proliferating endothelial cells. In conclusion, the Epo-R is present in the vasculature and myocytes in human skeletal muscle, suggesting a role in both cell types. In accordance, a single injection of Epo regulates myoglobin, MRF-4, and transferrin receptor mRNA levels. However, in contrast to our hypothesis, prolonged Epo administration had no apparent effect on capillarization or muscle fiber hypertrophy.


2016 ◽  
Vol 116 (08) ◽  
pp. 272-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joy R. Wright ◽  
Stefan Amisten ◽  
Alison H. Goodall ◽  
Martyn P. Mahaut-Smith

SummaryIon channels have crucial roles in all cell types and represent important therapeutic targets. Approximately 20 ion channels have been reported in human platelets; however, no systematic study has been undertaken to define the platelet channelome. These membrane proteins need only be expressed at low copy number to influence function and may not be detected using proteomic or transcriptomic microarray approaches. In our recent work, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) provided key evidence that Kv1.3 is responsible for the voltage-dependent K+ conductance of platelets and megakaryocytes. The present study has expanded this approach to assess relative expression of 402 ion channels and channel regulatory genes in human platelets and three megakaryoblastic/erythroleukaemic cell lines. mRNA levels in platelets are low compared to other blood cells, therefore an improved method of isolating platelets was developed. This used a cocktail of inhibitors to prevent formation of leukocyte-platelet aggregates, and a combination of positive and negative immunomagnetic cell separation, followed by rapid extraction of mRNA. Expression of 34 channel-related transcripts was quantified in platelets, including 24 with unknown roles in platelet function, but that were detected at levels comparable to ion channels with established roles in haemostasis or thrombosis. Trace expression of a further 50 ion channel genes was also detected. More extensive channelomes were detected in MEG-01, CHRF-288–11 and HEL cells (195, 185 and 197 transcripts, respectively), but lacked several channels observed in the platelet. These “channelome” datasets provide an important resource for further studies of ion channel function in the platelet and megakaryocyte.Supplementary Material to this article is available online at www.thrombosis-online.com.


2005 ◽  
Vol 53 (11) ◽  
pp. 1371-1382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Zhang ◽  
Jiang Li ◽  
Michael Deavers ◽  
James L. Abbruzzese ◽  
Linus Ho

Syntaxin 17 (STX17) is a divergent member of the syntaxin family of proteins first discovered by Scheller and colleagues in a yeast two-hybrid screen designed to identify novel mammalian SNAREs (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor-attachment protein receptors). We recently independently identified STX17 as a novel Ras-interacting protein, but immunohistochemical studies suggested that STX17 is localized to the nucleus in normal pancreatic ductal epithelial, acinar, and islet cells in contrast to previous reports of cytoplasmic localization, albeit in other cell types. Therefore, we have conducted a more thorough survey of various human and mouse tissues to better establish the expression pattern of STX17 in different tissues and cell types. Although RT-PCR experiments demonstrate ubiquitous expression of STX17, closer examination by immunohistochemistry reveal that STX17 expression is limited to certain cell types. Furthermore, in contrast to the cytoplasmic localization previously reported in a limited number of cell types, we find that in many other cell types, syntaxin 17 can be found in the nucleus. Finally, we demonstrate that in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, STX17 localization is altered relative to normal hepatocytes, although the localization of STX17 differs even between these established human cancer cell lines and fresh human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, emphasizing the caution that must be exercised in drawing conclusions from data gathered in cell lines. The sequence divergence of STX17, the unexpected nuclear localization of STX17 in many cell types, and the altered localization of STX17 in malignant cells argue for a novel function of syntaxin 17 distinct from its hypothesized role in mediating membrane fusion events.


2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (9) ◽  
pp. 3470-3480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debra A. O'Leary ◽  
Peter G. Noakes ◽  
Nick A. Lavidis ◽  
Ismail Kola ◽  
Paul J. Hertzog ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The GA-binding protein (GABP) transcription factor has been shown in vitro to regulate the expression of the neuromuscular proteins utrophin, acetylcholine esterase, and acetylcholine receptor subunits δ and ε through the N-box promoter motif (5′-CCGGAA-3′), but its in vivo function remains unknown. A single point mutation within the N-box of the gene encoding the acetylcholine receptor ε subunit has been identified in several patients suffering from postsynaptic congenital myasthenic syndrome, implicating the GA-binding protein in neuromuscular function and disease. Since conventional gene targeting results in an embryonic-lethal phenotype, we used conditional targeting to investigate the role of GABPα in neuromuscular junction and skeletal muscle development. The diaphragm and soleus muscles from mutant mice display alterations in morphology and distribution of acetylcholine receptor clusters at the neuromuscular junction and neurotransmission properties consistent with reduced receptor function. Furthermore, we confirmed decreased expression of the acetylcholine receptor ε subunit and increased expression of the γ subunit in skeletal muscle tissues. Therefore, the GABP transcription factor aids in the structural formation and function of neuromuscular junctions by regulating the expression of postsynaptic genes.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Nicoletti ◽  
X Wei ◽  
U. Etxaniz ◽  
D Proietti ◽  
L. Madaro ◽  
...  

SummaryDevelopmental synaptogenesis toward formation of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) is regulated by the reciprocal exchange of signals derived from nerve or muscle ends, respectively. These signals are re-deployed in adult life to repair NMJ lesions. The emerging heterogeneity of skeletal muscle cellular composition and the functional interplay between different muscle-resident cell types activated in response to homeostatic perturbations challenge the traditional notion that muscle-derived signals uniquely derive from myofibers. We have used single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) for a longitudinal analysis of gene expression profiles in cells isolated from skeletal muscles subjected to denervation by complete sciatic nerve transection. Our data show that, unlike muscle injury, which massively activates multiple muscle-resident cell types, denervation selectively induced the expansion of two cell types - muscle glial cells and activated fibroblasts. These cells were also identified as putative sources of muscle-derived signals implicated in NMJ repair and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling. Pseudo-time analysis of gene expression in muscle glial-derived cells at sequential timepoints post-denervation revealed an initial bifurcation into distinct processes related to either cellular de-differentiation and commitment to specialized cell types, such as Schwann cells, or ECM remodeling. However, at later time points muscle glial-derived cells appear to adopt a more uniform pattern of gene expression, dominated by a reduction of neurogenic signals. Consensual activation of pro-fibrotic and pro-atrophic genes from fibroblasts and other muscle-resident cell types suggests a global conversion of denervated muscles into an environment hostile for NMJ repair, while conductive for progressive development of fibrosis and myofiber atrophy.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. e0253533
Author(s):  
Changwei Chen ◽  
Jennifer R. Gallagher ◽  
Jamie Tarlton ◽  
Lidy van Aalten ◽  
Susan E. Bray ◽  
...  

The biguanide, metformin, is the first-choice therapeutic agent for type-2 diabetes, although the mechanisms that underpin metformin clinical efficacy remain the subject of much debate, partly due to the considerable variation in patient response to metformin. Identification of poor responders by genotype could avoid unnecessary treatment and provide clues to the underlying mechanism of action. GWAS identified SNPs associated with metformin treatment success at a locus containing the NPAT (nuclear protein, ataxia-telangiectasia locus) and ATM (ataxia-telangiectasia mutated) genes. This implies that gene sequence dictates a subsequent biological function to influence metformin action. Hence, we modified expression of NPAT in immortalized cell lines, primary mouse hepatocytes and mouse tissues, and analysed the outcomes on metformin action using confocal microscopy, immunoblotting and immunocytochemistry. In addition, we characterised the metabolic phenotype of npat heterozygous knockout mice and established the metformin response following development of insulin resistance. NPAT protein was localised in the nucleus at discrete loci in several cell types, but over-expression or depletion of NPAT in immortalised cell models did not change cellular responses to biguanides. In contrast, metformin regulation of respiratory exchange ratio (RER) was completely lost in animals lacking one allele of npat. There was also a reduction in metformin correction of impaired glucose tolerance, however no other metabolic abnormalities, or response to metformin, were found in the npat heterozygous mice. In summary, we provide methodological advancements for the detection of NPAT, demonstrate that minor reductions in NPAT mRNA levels (20–40%) influence metformin regulation of RER, and propose that the association between NPAT SNPs and metformin response observed in GWAS, could be due to loss of metformin modification of cellular fuel usage.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document