All members of the MHC multigene family respond to thyroid hormone in a highly tissue-specific manner

In mammals different isoforms of myosin heavy chain are encoded by the members of a multigene family. The expression of each gene of this family is regulated in a tissue- and developmental stage-specific manner as well as by hormonal and various pathological stimuli. In this study the molecular basis of isoform switches induced in myosin heavy chain by thyroid hormone was investigated. The expression of the myosin heavy chain gene family was analyzed in seven different muscles of adult rats subjected to hypo- or hyperthyroidism with complementary DNA probes specific for six different myosin heavy chain genes. The results demonstrate that all six genes are responsive to thyroid hormone. More interestingly, the same myosin heavy chain gene can be regulated by thyroid hormone in highly different modes, even in opposite directions, depending on the tissue in which it is expressed. Furthermore, the skeletal embryonic and neonatal myosin heavy chain genes, so far considered specific to these two developmental stages, can be reinduced by hypothyroidism in specific adult muscles.     

Diazepam inhibits myoblast fusion and expression of muscle specific protein synthesis

The presence of diazepam in culutres of chicken embryo myoblasts arrests normal muscle cell differentiation. High concentrations of the drug reversibly prevent myoblasts from fusing to form multinucleated myotubes. Lower concentrations of diazepam allow cell fusion to occur, but inhibit the synthesis and accumulation of myosin heavy chain, implying that cell fusion does not obligate myoblasts to synthesize and accumulate large quantities of muscle specific protein. The effect of diazepam on muscle cells in culture is direct and specific.     

蛋白质磷酸化对肌动球蛋白解离及其乙酰化水平的影响

[目的]研究肌球蛋白重链和肌动蛋白磷酸化对其乙酰化水平、肌动球蛋白解离及ATP酶活性的影响,为通过调控磷酸化水平改善肉品嫩度提供理论依据.[方法]以羊背最长肌为材料制备肌肉匀浆液,采用碱性磷酸酶抑制剂(抑制去磷酸化)和蛋白激酶抑制剂(抑制磷酸化)调控其磷酸化水平,在4℃分别孵育0、0.5、4、12、24、48和72 h...     

大鼠快慢骨骼肌肌纤维构成的比较

[目的]研究成年大鼠快肌内侧腓肠肌与慢肌比目鱼肌内各型肌纤维的分布及构成差异。[方法]应用RT-PCR方法分析4型肌纤维的肌球蛋白重链异构体基因表达差异,并以肌动球蛋白腺苷三磷酸酶组织化学染色分析4型肌纤维构成比例。[结果]通过RT-PCR扩增所得的条带,在内侧腓肠肌内MHCⅠ、MHCⅡx、MHCⅡa、MHCⅡb基因表达均有分布,而在比目鱼肌中未发现有Ⅱb型基因表达。4型或3型肌纤维均呈交错式镶嵌型分布。[结论]大鼠内侧腓肠肌中ⅡA型肌纤维占很大比例,而在比目鱼肌中I型肌纤维最多,其中缺少ⅡB型肌纤维。     

Disruption of the Dictyostelium myosin heavy chain gene by homologous recombination

The phenomenon of homologous recombination, which allows specific gene conversion and gene insertion, can be a powerful system for the study of eukaryotic cell biology. Data are presented demonstrating that integration of a transfected plasmid by homologous recombination occurs in the motile eukaryotic cell Dictyostelium discoideum. A plasmid carrying a G418 resistance gene and the amino terminal half of the myosin heavy chain gene was used to transfect Dictyostelium. A large fraction of the resultant G418-resistant cells had the plasmid integrated into the single genomic copy of the heavy chain gene. These cells, which fail to express the native myosin but express the myosin fragment, are defective in cytokinesis and become large and multinucleate. In spite of the absence of native myosin, these cells, termed hmm cells, exhibit many forms of cell movement, including membrane ruffling, phagocytosis, and chemotaxis. The hmm cells can aggregate but are blocked at a later stage in the Dictyostelium developmental cycle. The hmm cells revert to the wild-type phenotype. Reversion of the hmm phenotype is due to excision and loss of the transforming plasmid. The revertant cells express native myosin, are G418 sensitive, and have a normal developmental cycle. These results constitute genetic proof that the intact myosin molecule is required for cytokinesis and not for karyokinesis.     

小菜蛾肌球蛋白重链部分cDNA序列克隆、表达概况及分析

肌肉肌球蛋白重链在生物运动过程中具有至关重要的作用,但在昆虫中此类基因极少被报道。首次克隆和分析小菜蛾肌球蛋白重链部分cDNA序列,GenBank登录号为FJ462712,其长408个碱基,推测编码135个氨基酸。同源分析表明:此多肽序列与凤蝶、家蚕、果蝇的同源性分别为95%,93%,82%。半定量RT-PCR研究表明:小菜蛾MHC基因在不同的生长发育阶段的表达皆不相同,在老熟幼虫和成虫中的表达量显著高于低龄幼虫和蛹。为进一步鉴定小菜蛾肌球蛋白重链的生理特征提供基因序列信息。     

Myosin light chain phosphorylation does not modulate cross-bridge cycling rate in mouse skeletal muscle

An attempt was made to determine whether phosphorylation of the myosin light chain represents a thick filament-associated mechanism for modulating the rate of cross-bridge cycling in mouse skeletal muscle. When the degree of light chain phosphorylation was varied independently of tetanus duration, there was no correlation of phosphorylation with cross-bridge turnover rate, as measured by the shortening velocity of the muscle. It is concluded that in intact skeletal muscle phosphorylation of the myosin light chain does not in itself modulate cross-bridge cycling rate and that previously reported changes in cycling rate were due to other factors that may vary with tetanus duration.     

Expression and characterization of a functional myosin head fragment in Dictyostelium discoideum

The isolated head fragment of myosin is a motor protein that is able to use energy liberated from the hydrolysis of adenosine triphosphate to cause sliding movement of actin filaments. Expression of a myosin fragment nearly equivalent to the amino-terminal globular head domain, generally referred to as subfragment 1, has been achieved by transforming the eukaryotic organism Dictyostelium discoideum with a plasmid that carries a 2.6-kilobase fragment of the cloned Dictyostelium myosin heavy chain gene under the control of the Dictyostelium actin-15 promoter. The recombinant fragment of the myosin heavy chain was purified 2400-fold from one of the resulting cell lines and was found to be functional by the following criteria: the myosin head fragment copurified with the essential and regulatory myosin light chains, decorated actin filaments, and displayed actin-activated adenosine triphosphatase activity. In addition, motility assays in vitro showed that the recombinant myosin fragment is capable of supporting sliding movement of actin filaments.     

肌纤维类型转化与肉品质的关系*

 猪的肌纤维根据肌球蛋白重链(MyHC)的多态性可分为1,2a.2b和2x 4种类型,在代谢上分别与慢速氧化型、快速氧化型、快速酵解型和中间类型相对应。肌纤维的生成在分子水平上受到肌细胞生成素基因的精确调控,肌纤维的类型在生长过程中不断发生转化,并受营养和非营养等因素的影响。肌纤维的类型对肉的品质有着重要的影响。     

家兔骨骼肌肌球蛋白重链构成的电泳

[目的]探究家兔骨骼肌肌球蛋白重链构成的电泳的作用机制。[方法]应用十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)检测成年家兔后肢肌胫前肌、腓肠肌和比目鱼肌的肌球蛋白重链异构体(MyHCs),采用大体解剖法依次取出家兔的每块骨骼肌,分别与样品缓冲液一起研磨成肌细胞匀浆,经高速冷冻离心后取出上清液,按照不连续SDS-聚丙烯酰胺小孔梯度凝胶电泳操作程序依次试验。[结论]该研究进一步证实3种快纤维型在成年啮齿动物肢体肌肉中的作用,但同源结构是否有这些肌纤维值得继续深入探索。     

肌纤维类型组成对猪肌肉品质与能量代谢的影响研究进展

肌纤维是肌肉组织的基本结构单位,通过改变肌纤维类型组成提高肌肉品质是当前的研究热点之一.成年哺乳动物骨骼肌肌纤维类型按肌球蛋白重链基因(MyHC)的多态性表达可分为Ⅰ、2a、2x、2b型4种类型,Ⅰ、2a型属偏氧化型肌纤维,2x、2b型属偏酵解型肌纤维.动物出生前,肌纤维MyHC异构体一般表达为胚胎型、胎儿型、Ⅰ和2a...     

Increased phosphorylation of myosin light chain kinase after an increase in cyclic AMP in intact smooth muscle

The role of cyclic adenosine monophosphate-mediated phosphorylation of myosin light chain kinase in relaxing smooth muscle was examined. The kinase was immunoprecipitated from tissue extracts and the phosphate content was determined. The addition of forskolin to resting or methacholine-contracted muscles resulted in an increase in myosin light chain kinase phosphorylation of myosin light chain kinase is one of the reactions in the process by which cyclic adenosine monophosphate causes relaxation of smooth muscle.     

Cytochemical localization of lactate dehydrogenase in muscular dystrophy of the mouse

By use of phenazine methosulfate and the "ncubation mixture film method," lactate dehydrogenase activity has been demonstrated in the dystrophic muscle fibers of strain 129 mice. The results indicate that for demonstration of lactate dehydrogenase activity in dystrophic muscle fibers phenazine methosulfate is necessary. This finding is typical for the "white" muscle fibers in the normal muscle and suggests that the dystrophy affects primarily the "white" muscle fibers.     

Regulation of myosin phosphatase by a specific interaction with cGMP- dependent protein kinase Ialpha

Contraction and relaxation of smooth muscle are regulated by myosin light-chain kinase and myosin phosphatase through phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of myosin light chains. Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase Ialpha (cGKIalpha) mediates physiologic relaxation of vascular smooth muscle in response to nitric oxide and cGMP. It is shown here that cGKIalpha is targeted to the smooth muscle cell contractile apparatus by a leucine zipper interaction with the myosin-binding subunit (MBS) of myosin phosphatase. Uncoupling of the cGKIalpha-MBS interaction prevents cGMP-dependent dephosphorylation of myosin light chain, demonstrating that this interaction is essential to the regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell tone.     

Phosphorylation of smooth muscle myosin: evidence for cooperativity between the myosin heads

The relationship between the actin-activated adenosinetriphosphatase activity of smooth muscle myosin and the extent of myosin light chain phosphorylation is nonlinear. It is suggested that the phosphorylation of the two heads of smooth muscle myosin is an ordered process and that the two heads are influenced by cooperative interactions.     

小鼠骨骼肌卫星细胞的分离培养和鉴定

采用胶原酶和胰酶联用的酶消化法分离小鼠骨骼肌卫星细胞,应用差速贴壁法进行纯化,并利用RT-PCR和免疫荧光染色方法对分化前后细胞的标志基因进行鉴定。结果显示:分离出的肌卫星细胞生长状态良好,RT-PCR和免疫荧光染色显示肌卫星细胞Pax7和MyoD呈阳性表达,诱导分化形成肌管后,分化标志基因MyoG和MHC呈阳性表达。本研究成功从小鼠肌肉组织中分离出了肌卫星细胞,并具有很好的体外分化能力,可以为肌肉的发育分化和损伤修复研究提供良好的细胞模型。     

Increased activity of calcium leak channels in myotubes of Duchenne human and mdx mouse origin

Elevated free Ca2+ concentrations found in adult dystrophic muscle fibers result in enhanced protein degradation. Since the difference in concentrations may reflect differences in entry, Ca2+ leak channels in cultures of normal and Duchenne human myotubes, and normal and mdx murine myotubes, have been identified and characterized. The open probability of leak channels is markedly increased in dystrophic myotubes. Other channel properties, such as mean open times, single channel conductance, ion selectivity, and behavior in the presence of pharmacological agents, were similar among myotube types. Compared to the Ca2+ concentrations in normal human and normal mouse myotubes, intracellular resting free Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) in myotubes of Duchenne and mdx origin were significantly higher at a time when dystrophin is first expressed in normal tissue. Taken together, these findings suggest that the increased open probability of Ca2+ leak channels contributes to the elevated free intracellular Ca2+ concentration in Duchenne human and mdx mouse myotubes.     

家兔Myh7基因生物信息学分析及表达规律研究

[目的]对家兔Myh7基因进行生物信息学分析及表达规律研究。[方法]利用RT-PCR技术检测了Myh7在肌肉发育过程中的表达规律,并结合生物信息学方法对家兔Myh7的序列进行深入分析。[结果]Myh7蛋白为不稳定亲水性蛋白,有Myosin_N和MYSc_class_II这2个结构区域,其中MYSc_class_II是肌球蛋白重链家族特有结构域。MEGA软件分析家兔Myh7分子进化,发现其与人、猩猩等物种间同源性较高,与其亲缘关系的远近一致。定量分析显示:在整个肌肉发育过程中,Mhy7表达量在腿肌中基本维持在较低水平,在背肌中的表达量相对波动较大,而在11周龄时出现表达量上升的趋势。[结论]该研究为进一步研究Myh7基因在肌肉生长过程中的功能奠定了分子基础,为研究家兔的肌肉发育分子机制提供了一定的参考依据。     

大鼠胫前肌亚体内基因表达与酶组化染色相关性研究

[目的]研究大鼠胫前肌亚体内不同肌纤维型的分布情况,并探讨RT-PCR方法与酶组织化学染色在定量研究方面的相关性。[方法]应用RT-PCR技术对大鼠胫前肌亚体内4种肌纤维型的表达进行研究,同时与琥珀酸脱氢酶(SDH)组织化学染色进行比较。[结果]2种方法的结果均表明4种肌纤维在胫前肌的前后亚体内表达量存在较明显的差异。前后亚体内肌球蛋白重链异构体相对含量均为Ⅱb>Ⅱa>Ⅰ>Ⅱx,而其中前亚体又以Ⅱb和Ⅱa型相对含量多于后亚体Ⅱb和Ⅱa型;前亚体Ⅰ与Ⅱx型相对含量少于后亚体Ⅰ与Ⅱx型。[结论]RT-PCR方法与骨骼肌肌纤维琥珀酸脱氢酶组织化学染色方法在定性定量研究方面具有相对的一致性。     

Cell therapy of alpha-sarcoglycan null dystrophic mice through intra-arterial delivery of mesoangioblasts

Preclinical or clinical trials for muscular dystrophies have met with modest success, mainly because of inefficient delivery of viral vectors or donor cells to dystrophic muscles. We report here that intra-arterial delivery of wild-type mesoangioblasts, a class of vessel-associated stem cells, corrects morphologically and functionally the dystrophic phenotype of virtually all downstream muscles in adult immunocompetent alpha-sarcoglycan (alpha-SG) null mice, a model organism for limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. When mesoangioblasts isolated from juvenile dystrophic mice and transduced with a lentiviral vector expressing alpha-SG were injected into the femoral artery of dystrophic mice, they reconstituted skeletal muscle in a manner similar to that seen in wild-type cells. The success of this protocol was mainly due to widespread distribution of donor stem cells through the capillary network, a distinct advantage of this strategy over previous approaches.