title: Different distributions of dystrophin and related proteins at nerve-muscle junctions.
abstract: The distributions of dystrophin, 'dystrophin-related protein' (DRP) and beta-spectrin were compared with that of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) at rat nerve-muscle junctions (NMJs) using immunofluorescence techniques. In sections, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to dystrophin and beta-spectrin labelled the entire sarcolemma but were concentrated at the NMJs while those to DRP labelled only NMJs. In permeabilized muscle fibres, DRP was precisely co-localized with the AChRs, whereas the zone of high density labelling of dystrophin and beta-spectrin extended 0.3-0.4 microns beyond the AChRs. Within the NMJ, the labelling of DRP appeared as a series of interconnecting lines similar to that of AChRs. However, labelling of dystrophin and beta-spectrin was consistently more punctate. These data suggest DRP is more closely associated with AChRs than are dystrophin or beta-spectrin.
authors.affiliation: Muscular Dystrophy Group Research Laboratories, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Bewick
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Slater
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D016189:Dystrophin / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016189:Dystrophin; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic