Myosin heavy chain isoforms in equine gluteus medius muscle: comparison of mRNA and protein expression profiles.
Abstract: The major structural protein in skeletal muscle, myosin heavy chain (MyHC), is primarily transcriptionally controlled. We compared the expression of MyHC isoforms on the mRNA and protein level in biopsies from the m. gluteus medius from adult untrained horses. In transverse sections, the majority of fibers showed qualitatively identical mRNA and protein expression patterns. However, coexpression of 2a and 2d/x MyHCs was substantially more common at the protein than at the mRNA level, suggesting a fine-tuning of these two genes in normal muscle not subjected to any training protocol. Because transverse sections give a limited sampling of mRNA expression in the case of uneven distribution of transcripts in a muscle fiber, we also analyzed longitudinal sections. We present, for the first time, evidence that expression of MyHC mRNA and protein was equal along the length of the fiber. Hence, mRNA expression is not regulated by differential expression of isoforms by separate myonuclei. It is concluded that the number of protein hybrid fibers in equine gluteus medius muscle is controlled by alteration of the transcription pattern uniformly along the fiber, rather than by simultaneous transcription of genes. The differences with the results in muscle of small animals and humans are discussed.
Publication Date: 2005-06-27 PubMed ID: 15983121DOI: 10.1369/jhc.4A6609.2005Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research studied the expression of myosin heavy chain, a major protein in skeletal muscle, in untrained adult horses. The findings suggest that the protein’s levels in equine muscle fibers are controlled by modifications in the pattern of gene transcription rather than by simultaneous gene operations.
Research Objective
- The study aims to investigate the transcriptional control of myosin heavy chain (MyHC), a core structural protein in skeletal muscle, and to compare the expression of its isoforms at both mRNA and protein levels in the gluteus medius muscle of adult untrained horses.
Myosin Heavy Chain and Its Importance in the Study
- Myosin heavy chain is a key protein in skeletal muscle, playing a crucial role in muscle contraction functionality.
- The protein’s expression is primarily controlled at the transcriptional level, thus making it an interesting target for research into muscle biology and functionality.
Methods
- In this research, muscle biopsies from untrained adult horses were taken and examined in both transverse and longitudinal sections to analyze the expression patterns of MyHC isoforms.
- The study investigates the distribution of mRNA expression within muscle fiber, addressing potential unevenness that could skew observations from transverse biopsies alone.
Findings and Conclusions
- Expression of MyHC mRNA and protein was found to be equal along the entire length of the muscle fiber.
- The researchers observed that coexpression of 2a and 2d/x MyHC isoforms was more common at the protein level compared to the mRNA level, thereby suggesting fine-tuning of the genes’ transcription.
- The study concluded that the amount of protein hybrid fibers in equine gluteus medius muscle is controlled via alteration of the transcription pattern throughout the fiber, rather than by multiple genes being transcribed simultaneously.
- The researchers discuss how these findings differ from previous studies conducted on smaller animals and humans.
Cite This Article
APA
Eizema K, van den Burg MM, de Jonge HW, Dingboom EG, Weijs WA, Everts ME.
(2005).
Myosin heavy chain isoforms in equine gluteus medius muscle: comparison of mRNA and protein expression profiles.
J Histochem Cytochem, 53(11), 1383-1390.
https://doi.org/10.1369/jhc.4A6609.2005 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Utrecht University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Division of Anatomy and Physiology, PO Box 80.158, NL-3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands. c.g.h.eizema@vet.uu.nl
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Horses
- Immunohistochemistry
- In Situ Hybridization
- Male
- Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / metabolism
- Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
- Myosin Heavy Chains / biosynthesis
- Myosin Heavy Chains / genetics
- Protein Isoforms / biosynthesis
- Protein Isoforms / genetics
- RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
- Transcription, Genetic
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Baumgartner M, Boisson T, Erhard MH, Zeitler-Feicht MH. Common Feeding Practices Pose A Risk to the Welfare of Horses When Kept on Non-Edible Bedding. Animals (Basel) 2020 Mar 2;10(3).
- Wagner AL, Urschel KL, Lefta M, Esser KA. Effect of gluteus medius muscle sample collection depth on postprandial mammalian target of rapamycin signaling in mature Thoroughbred mares. Am J Vet Res 2013 Jun;74(6):910-7.
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