Namba_1996_Genes.Cells_1_755

Reference

Title : Inhibition of agrin-mediated acetylcholine receptor clustering by utrophin C-terminal peptides - Namba_1996_Genes.Cells_1_755
Author(s) : Namba T , Scheller RH
Ref : Genes Cells , 1 :755 , 1996
Abstract :

BACKGROUND: Agrin is an extracellular matrix protein that is required for neuromuscular synaptogenesis and is particularly important in the clustering of acetylcholine receptors at post-synaptic sites. Little is known about the signal transduction pathway of agrin-mediated receptor clustering, although cytoskeletal elements and a dystrophin associated glycoprotein complex (DGC) have been implicated. Because agrin binds to alpha-dystroglycan, a member of the DGC, and the DGC is linked to actin through utrophin at postsynaptic sites, it has been suggested that binding of utrophin to the DGC plays a central role in agrin mediated receptor clustering.
RESULTS: To test this hypothesis, we expressed at high levels the DGC binding domains of utrophin in cultured myotubes using recombinant Semliki Forest Virus. Myotubes expressing the utrophin and dystrophin DGC binding domain formed significantly fewer acetylcholine receptor clusters in response to agrin than myotubes expressing other proteins.
CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest involvement of the DGC and utrophin in the signal transduction pathway of agrin-mediated acetylcholine receptor cluster formation or stabilization.

PubMedSearch : Namba_1996_Genes.Cells_1_755
PubMedID: 9077444

Related information

Citations formats

Namba T, Scheller RH (1996)
Inhibition of agrin-mediated acetylcholine receptor clustering by utrophin C-terminal peptides
Genes Cells 1 :755

Namba T, Scheller RH (1996)
Genes Cells 1 :755