beta 2-Syntrophin: localization at the neuromuscular junction in skeletal muscle

Neuroreport. 1994 Aug 15;5(13):1577-80.

Abstract

The syntrophins are a multigene family of proteins which bind C-terminal domains of dystrophin, utrophin and homologs thereof. We report here that antibodies specific for one isoform, beta 2-syntrophin, labeled only the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) in rat skeletal muscle. Anti-alpha 1-syntrophin antibodies gave strong labeling of the sarcolemma and NMJ in normal rat and mouse muscle, and similar but much weaker labeling in dystrophin-minus mdx muscle. beta 2-Syntrophin therefore appears to be specific to the NMJ in normal muscle, as is utrophin, and may be involved in acetylcholine receptor clustering. alpha 1-Syntrophin appears to be associated mainly with dystrophin, as expected, but a small portion must be associated with another protein, possibly homologs of the electric tissue 87K protein.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism
  • Dystrophin / metabolism
  • Dystrophin-Associated Proteins
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Immunoblotting
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Muscle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / innervation
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism*
  • Neuromuscular Junction / metabolism*
  • Neuromuscular Junction / ultrastructure
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Utrophin

Substances

  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Dystrophin
  • Dystrophin-Associated Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Muscle Proteins
  • Utrn protein, mouse
  • Utrophin
  • syntrophin