Enhanced resistance to fatigue and altered calcium handling properties of sarcalumenin knockout mice

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoli Zhao ◽  
Morikatsu Yoshida ◽  
Leticia Brotto ◽  
Hiroshi Takeshima ◽  
Noah Weisleder ◽  
...  

Sarcalumenin is a Ca2+-binding protein located in the sarcoplasmic reticulum of striated muscle cells, the physiological function of which has not been fully determined yet. Using sarcalumenin knockout ( sar −/−) mice, we showed that sar ablation altered store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) and enhanced muscle fatigue resistance. Sar−/− mice fatigued less with treadmill exercise, and intact isolated soleus and extensor digitorum longus muscles from sar−/− mice were more resistant to intermittent fatiguing stimulation than those from wild-type mice. Enhanced SOCE was observed in the sar −/− muscles. Biochemical analysis revealed that sar −/− muscles contained significantly elevated expression of mitsugumin 29 (MG29), a synaptophysin-related membrane protein located in the triad junction of skeletal muscle. Because the ablation of mg29 has been shown to cause increased fatigability and dysfunction of SOCE, the enhanced SOCE activity seen in sar −/− muscle may be correlated with the increased expression of MG29. Our data suggest that systemic ablation of sarcalumenin caused enhanced resistance to muscle fatigue by compensatory changes in Ca2+ regulatory proteins that effect SOCE.

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ola A. Bahri ◽  
Neia Naldaiz-Gastesi ◽  
Donna C. Kennedy ◽  
Antony M. Wheatley ◽  
Ander Izeta ◽  
...  

Abstract The dermal striated muscle panniculus carnosus (PC), prevalent in lower mammals with remnants in humans, is highly regenerative, and whose function is purported to be linked to defence and shivering thermogenesis. Given the heterogeneity of responses of different muscles to disease, we set out to characterize the PC in wild-type and muscular dystrophic mdx mice. The mouse PC contained mainly fast-twitch type IIB myofibers showing body wide distribution. The PC exemplified heterogeneity in myofiber sizes and a prevalence of central nucleated fibres (CNFs), hallmarks of regeneration, in wild-type and mdx muscles, which increased with age. PC myofibers were hypertrophic in mdx compared to wild-type mice. Sexual dimorphism was apparent with a two-fold increase in CNFs in PC from male versus female mdx mice. To evaluate myogenic potential, PC muscle progenitors were isolated from 8-week old wild-type and mdx mice, grown and differentiated for 7-days. Myogenic profiling of PC-derived myocytes suggested that male mdx satellite cells (SCs) were more myogenic than female counterparts, independent of SC density in PC muscles. Muscle regenerative differences in the PC were associated with alterations in expression of calcium handling regulatory proteins. These studies highlight unique aspects of the PC muscle and its potential as a model to study mechanisms of striated muscle regeneration in health and disease.


Endocrinology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 155 (5) ◽  
pp. 1771-1785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa F. Jackson ◽  
Naisi Li ◽  
Buel D. Rodgers

Attenuating myostatin enhances striated muscle growth, reduces adiposity, and improves cardiac contractility. To determine whether myostatin influences tissue potency in a manner that could control such pleiotropic actions, we generated label-retaining mice with wild-type and mstn−/− (Jekyll) backgrounds in which slow-cycling stem, transit-amplifying, and progenitor cells are preferentially labeled by histone 2B/green fluorescent protein. Jekyll mice were born with fewer label-retaining cells (LRCs) in muscle and heart, consistent with increased stem/progenitor cell contributions to embryonic growth of both tissues. Cardiac LRC recruitment from noncardiac sources occurred in both groups, but lasted longer in Jekyll hearts, whereas heightened β-adrenergic sensitivity of mstn−/− hearts was explained by elevated SERCA2a, phospholamban, and β2-adrenergic receptor levels. Jekyll mice were also born with more adipose LRCs despite significantly smaller tissue weights. Reduced adiposity in mstn−/− animals is therefore due to reduced lipid deposition as adipoprogenitor pools appear to be enhanced. By contrast, increased bone densities of mstn−/− mice are likely compensatory to hypermuscularity because LRC counts were similar in Jekyll and wild-type tibia. Myostatin therefore significantly influences the potency of different tissues, not just muscle, as well as cardiac Ca2+-handling proteins. Thus, the pleiotropic phenotype of mstn−/− animals may not be due to enhanced muscle development per se, but also to altered stem/progenitor cell pools that ultimately influence tissue potency.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Edward Gentle ◽  
Isabel Moelter ◽  
Mohamed Tarek Badr ◽  
Konstanze Döhner ◽  
Michael Lübbert ◽  
...  

AbstractMutations in the transcription factor C/EBPα are found in ~10% of all acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) cases but the contribution of these mutations to leukemogenesis is incompletely understood. We here use a mouse model of granulocyte progenitors expressing conditionally active HoxB8 to assess the cell biological and molecular activity of C/EBPα-mutations associated with human AML. Both N-terminal truncation and C-terminal AML-associated mutations of C/EBPα substantially altered differentiation of progenitors into mature neutrophils in cell culture. Closer analysis of the C/EBPα-K313-duplication showed expansion and prolonged survival of mutant C/EBPα-expressing granulocytes following adoptive transfer into mice. C/EBPα-protein containing the K313-mutation further showed strongly enhanced transcriptional activity compared with the wild-type protein at certain promoters. Analysis of differentially regulated genes in cells overexpressing C/EBPα-K313 indicates a strong correlation with genes regulated by C/EBPα. Analysis of transcription factor enrichment in the differentially regulated genes indicated a strong reliance of SPI1/PU.1, suggesting that despite reduced DNA binding, C/EBPα-K313 is active in regulating target gene expression and acts largely through a network of other transcription factors. Strikingly, the K313 mutation caused strongly elevated expression of C/EBPα-protein, which could also be seen in primary K313 mutated AML blasts, explaining the enhanced C/EBPα activity in K313-expressing cells.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiyu Luo ◽  
Qifei Li ◽  
Jasmine Lin ◽  
Quinn Murphy ◽  
Isabelle Marty ◽  
...  

Abstract SPEG, a member of the myosin light chain kinase family, is localized at the level of triad surrounding myofibrils in skeletal muscles. In humans, SPEG mutations are associated with centronuclear myopathy and cardiomyopathy. Using a striated muscle specific Speg-knockout (KO) mouse model, we have previously shown that SPEG is critical for triad maintenance and calcium handling. Here we further examined the molecular function of SPEG and characterized the effects of SPEG deficiency on triad and focal adhesion proteins. We used yeast two-hybrid assay, and identified desmin, an intermediate filament protein, to interact with SPEG and confirmed this interaction by co-immunoprecipitation. Using domain-mapping assay, we defined that Ig-like and fibronectin III domains of SPEG interact with rod domain of desmin. In skeletal muscles, SPEG depletion leads to desmin aggregates in vivo and a shift in desmin equilibrium from soluble to insoluble fraction. We also profiled the expression and localization of triadic proteins in Speg-KO mice using western blot and immunofluorescence. The amounts of RyR1 and triadin were markedly reduced, whereas DHPRα1, SERCA1, and triadin were abnormally accumulated in discrete areas of Speg-KO myofibers. In addition, Speg-KO muscles exhibited internalized vinculin and β1 integrin, both of which are critical components of the focal adhesion complex. Further, β1 integrin was abnormally accumulated in early endosomes of Speg-KO myofibers. These results demonstrate that SPEG-deficient skeletal muscles exhibit several pathological features similar to those seen in MTM1 deficiency. Defects of shared cellular pathways may underlie these structural and functional abnormalities in both types of diseases.


2010 ◽  
Vol 76 (16) ◽  
pp. 5356-5362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eileen F. O'Shea ◽  
Paula M. O'Connor ◽  
Paul D. Cotter ◽  
R. Paul Ross ◽  
Colin Hill

ABSTRACT Two-component salivaricin P-like bacteriocins have demonstrated potential as antimicrobials capable of controlling infections in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The anti-Listeria activity of salivaricin P is optimal when the individual peptides Sln1 and Sln2 are added in succession at a 1:1 ratio. However, as degradation by digestive proteases may compromise the functionality of these peptides within the GIT, we investigated the potential to create salivaricin variants with enhanced resistance to the intestinal protease trypsin. A total of 11 variants of the salivaricin P components, in which conservative modifications at the trypsin-specific cleavage sites were explored in order to protect the peptides from trypsin degradation while maintaining their potent antimicrobial activity, were generated. Analysis of these variants revealed that eight were resistant to trypsin digestion while retaining antimicrobial activity. Combining the complementary trypsin-resistant variants Sln1-5 and Sln2-3 resulted in a MIC50 of 300 nM against Listeria monocytogenes, a 3.75-fold reduction in activity compared to the level for wild-type salivaricin P. This study demonstrates the potential of engineering bacteriocin variants which are resistant to specific protease action but which retain significant antimicrobial activity.


Cell Calcium ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 245-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pável Vázquez ◽  
Aldo Tirado-Cortés ◽  
Rocío Álvarez ◽  
Michel Ronjat ◽  
Araceli Amaya ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Sommerfeld ◽  
K. Dahlke ◽  
M. Sossdorf ◽  
R. A. Claus ◽  
A. Scherag ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The complement factor D (CFD) exerts a regulatory role during infection. However, its physiological function in coagulopathy and its impact on the course of an infection remains unclear. Materials Wild-type and CFD-deficient mice (n = 91) were subjected to cecal ligation and puncture to induce sepsis. At several time points, markers of coagulation and the host-immune response were determined. Furthermore, in patients (n = 79) with sepsis or SIRS, CFD levels were related to clinical characteristics, use of antiplatelet drugs and outcome. Results Septic CFD-deficient mice displayed higher TAT complexes (p = 0.02), impaired maximal clot firmness, but no relevant platelet drop and reduced GPIIb/IIIa surface expression on platelets (p = 0.03) compared to septic wild-type mice. In humans, higher CFD levels (non-survivors, 5.0 µg/ml to survivors, 3.6 µg/ml; p = 0.015) were associated with organ failure (SOFA score: r = 0.33; p = 0.003) and mortality (75% percentile, 61.1% to 25% percentile, 26.3%). CFD level was lower in patients with antiplatelet drugs (4.5–5.3 µg/ml) than in patients without. Conclusion In mice, CFD is linked to pronounced platelet activation, depicted by higher GPIIb/IIIa surface expression in wild-type mice. This might be of clinical importance since high CFD plasma concentrations were also associated with increased mortality in sepsis patients.


2016 ◽  
Vol 119 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle S Parvatiyar ◽  
Reginald T Nguyen ◽  
Maria C Jordan ◽  
Kenneth P Roos ◽  
Rachelle H Crosbie-Watson

Sarcospan (SSPN) has an important role in stabilizing sarcolemmal dystrophin- and utrophin-glycoprotein adhesion complexes at the cell membrane. Loss of cell adhesion leads to contraction-induced muscle damage, causing muscle dysfunction and cell death. Recently we have shown a specific role for SSPN in modulating cardiac cell adhesion and physiological function. After transthoracic aortic constriction (TAC), SSPN-null mice transitioned toward failure faster than wild-type (WT) mice. Muscle histology revealed large focal areas of collagen deposition in SSPN-null hearts after TAC compared to WT hearts, suggesting that increased membrane fragility affected cardiomyocyte survival. Our laboratory has shown that SSPN loss reduces sarcolemmal dystrophin levels and associated adhesion complexes in the heart. Whereas, the complete loss of dystrophin leads to development of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), causing cardiac dysfunction and early mortality. Overexpression of SSPN in DMD mice increased cell adhesion and laminin binding in hearts, leading to improvements in tissue histopathology and increased expression of utrophin, a functional homologue of dystrophin. Examining the restorative potential of SSPN in dystrophic cardiac tissue, led us to query whether compensatory upregulation of SSPN occurs in failing hearts of TAC-treated WT mice. In failing non-DMD hearts, we found that SSPN expression is increased. We have evidence of a chaperone role for SSPN, and its increased expression in the failing heart may contribute to the increased localization of dystrophin and associated glycoprotein complexes at the sarcolemma, which we observed in failing WT hearts compared to untreated controls. The upregulation of cell-stabilizing cell adhesion complexes may compensate for increased wall stress and counter pathological processes that culminate in cardiomyocyte demise, and we are exploring whether naturally increased expression or transgenic overexpression of SSPN in the heart may protect against damage. In summary, we have found that SSPN promotes cardiac function by maintaining cell adhesion and promoting cell survival during disease conditions.


2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 1210-1218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daren W. Brown ◽  
Robert A. E. Butchko ◽  
Mark Busman ◽  
Robert H. Proctor

ABSTRACT Fumonisins are mycotoxins produced by some Fusarium species and can contaminate maize or maize products. Ingestion of fumonisins is associated with diseases, including cancer and neural tube defects, in humans and animals. In fungi, genes involved in the synthesis of mycotoxins and other secondary metabolites are often located adjacent to each other in gene clusters. Such genes can encode structural enzymes, regulatory proteins, and/or proteins that provide self-protection. The fumonisin biosynthetic gene cluster includes 16 genes, none of which appear to play a role in regulation. In this study, we identified a previously undescribed gene (FUM21) located adjacent to the fumonisin polyketide synthase gene, FUM1. The presence of a Zn(II)2Cys6 DNA-binding domain in the predicted protein suggested that FUM21 was involved in transcriptional regulation. FUM21 deletion (Δfum21) mutants produce little to no fumonisin in cracked maize cultures but some FUM1 and FUM8 transcripts in a liquid GYAM medium. Complementation of a Δfum21 mutant with a wild-type copy of the gene restored fumonisin production. Analysis of FUM21 cDNAs identified four alternative splice forms (ASFs), and microarray analysis indicated the ASFs were differentially expressed. Based on these data, we present a model for how FUM21 ASFs may regulate fumonisin biosynthesis.


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