Multiple dystrophin isoforms are associated with the postsynaptic membrane of Torpedo electric organ.
We have shown previously that dystrophin is a component of postsynaptic membranes in Torpedo electric organ and is localized at mammalian neuromuscular synapses. In skeletal muscle, dystrophin is also detectable at the non-synaptic membrane of the myofiber, whereas in the electric organ, dystrophin is strictly localized to the postsynaptic membrane, and is not detectable in non-synaptic membranes. Multiple isoforms of dystrophin are present in skeletal muscle, and different isoforms could potentially be targetted to synaptic and non-synaptic membranes. We sought to determine whether the electric organ contains a single, or multiple isoforms of dystrophin, and we show here that the electric organ contains both a and b isoforms of dystrophin. Because dystrophin is found only at the postsynaptic membrane of the electric organ, we conclude that the two isoforms coexist in the postsynaptic membrane.
Ravin
A J
AJ
Biology Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge 02139.
Dyer
S M
SM
Yeadon
J E
JE
Burden
S J
SJ
D000818:Animals; D016189:Dystrophin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D004557:Electric Organ / Q000737:chemistry*; D013570:Synaptic Membranes / Q000737:chemistry*; D014101:Torpedo / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
D016189:Dystrophin