Immunocytochemical study of dystrophin at the myotendinous junction.
Dystrophin is the protein whose deficiency results in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The protein has homologies with a number of cytoskeletal proteins, is localized at the muscle sarcolemma and it may provide stability to the muscle plasma membrane. Using immunocytochemical techniques, we have studied dystrophin localization at the myotendinous junction, a region of membrane complexity that requires more stability because it is subjected to great mechanical stress during the transmission of contractile force to the tendon. The results showed subsarcolemmal deposits of dystrophin at the junctional folds of the myotendon as well as membrane-associated dystrophin at extrajunctional sarcolemma. The findings suggest that dystrophin may be one of the components linking terminal actin filaments to the subplasmalemmal surface of the junctional folds of the myotendon.
Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032.
C E
CE
Samitt
E
E
Bonilla
D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016189:Dystrophin; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009132:Muscles / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012508:Sarcolemma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013710:Tendons / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D016189:Dystrophin; D009124:Muscle Proteins