Protein kinase C couples membrane excitation to acetylcholine receptor gene inactivation in chick skeletal muscle.
The signaling pathway connecting membrane depolarization and gene activity in skeletal muscle remains largely unknown. Using transcription elongation (run-on) analysis we have found that electrical stimulation of denervated chick skeletal muscle in vivo rapidly and selectively results in inactivation of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) subunit genes. We have studied the possible involvement of protein kinase C (PKC) in this response and have observed that electrical stimulation increases the activity of PKC in the nucleus by over two orders of magnitude within 10 min; phorbol esters, within minutes after intramuscular application, block AChR subunit genes in the absence of electrical activity; and the activity-triggered gene inactivation is blocked by the protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine or by enzyme depletion resulting from chronic pretreatment of muscle with phorbol esters. We conclude that PKC is an integral component of the pathway coupling membrane excitation and AChR gene control.
Huang
C F
CF
Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, State University of New York, Stony Brook 11794.
Tong
J
J
Schmidt
J
J
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D002645:Chickens; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D016373:DNA, Antisense; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007700:Kinetics; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000235:genetics*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D019311:Staurosporine; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D000470:Alkaloids; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D016373:DNA, Antisense; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D019311:Staurosporine; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate