Abscence of changes in the protein profile of erythrocyte membranes in Duchenne patients.
Numerous authors have suggested an impairement in protein synthesis as a possible cause for the failure in growth with degeneration of the skeletal muscles protein content present in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Others have supported the use of in vitro erythrocyte membranes as a model of the sarcolemmal changes in DMD. Very recently, in vitro decrease in protein synthesis of ribosomal proteins of skeletal muscle cells, fibroblasts and erythrocytes of DMD patients have been reported. We studied the protein profile of erythrocytic membranes of 5 patients with confirmed DMD by means of SDS-polyacrylamide discontinuous gels electrophoresis (method with which we detected changes in the electrophoretic profile of erythrocyte membrane proteins induced by myotonizing drugs) and compared it with the profile of 5 healthy subjects of a similar age range. No differences between the two groups were apparent, rising doubts about the appropriatness of the erythrocyte membrane as an in vivo model of molecular changes in DMD and about the limitations of unidimensional electrophoresis as a suitable method for the detection of such changes.
Jiménez Salas
Z
Z
Becario CONACYT, México.
Morales-Aguilera
A
A
D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D009136:Muscular Dystrophies
D008565:Membrane Proteins