| Abstract | Mutations in the genes encoding dystrophin or dystrophin-associated proteins are responsible for Duchenne muscular dystrophy or various forms of limb-girdle muscular dystrophies respectively. We have recently cloned the gene for the murine 87 kDa postsynaptic protein dystrobrevin, a dystrophin-associated protein. Anti-dystrobrevin antibodies stain the sarcolemma in normal skeletal muscle indicating that dystrobrevin co-localises with dystrophin and the dystrophin-associated protein complex. By contrast, dystrobrevin membrane staining is severely reduced in muscles of Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients, consistent with dystrobrevin being a dystrophin-associated protein. Interestingly, dystrobrevin staining at the sarcolemma is dramatically reduced in patients with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy arising from the loss of one or all of the sarcoglycan components. Normal dystrobrevin staining is observed in patients with other forms of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy where dystrophin and the rest of the dystrophin-associated protein complex are normally expressed and in other neuromuscular disorders. Our results show that dystrobrevin-deficiency is a generic feature of dystrophies linked to dystrophin and the dystrophin-associated proteins. This is the first indication that a cytoplasmic component of the dystrophin-associated protein complex may be involved in the pathogenesis of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. |
| Authors | L Metzinger, D J Blake, M V Squier, L V Anderson, A E Deconinck, R Nawrotzki, D Hilton-Jones, K E Davies
(Affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, UK.)
|
| Journal | Human molecular genetics
(Hum Mol Genet)
Vol. 6
Issue 7
Pg. 1185-91
(Jul 1997)
ISSN: 0964-6906 ENGLAND |
| PMID | 9215691
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
|
| Chemical References |
- Cytoskeletal Proteins
- DAG1 protein, human
- DTNA protein, human
- Dystrophin
- Dystrophin-Associated Proteins
- Membrane Glycoproteins
- Neuropeptides
- Sarcoglycans
- dystrobrevin
- Dystroglycans
|
| Topics |
- Cytoskeletal Proteins
(metabolism)
- Dystroglycans
- Dystrophin
(immunology, metabolism)
- Dystrophin-Associated Proteins
- Humans
- Membrane Glycoproteins
(metabolism)
- Muscle, Skeletal
(metabolism)
- Muscular Dystrophies
(genetics)
- Neuropeptides
(deficiency, genetics, metabolism)
- Sarcoglycans
- Sarcolemma
(metabolism)
|