title: Detection of a specific isoform of alpha-actinin with antisera directed against dystrophin.
abstract: We have characterized a protein immunologically related to dystrophin, the protein product of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene. We identify this related protein as a fast-twitch glycolytic isoform (mouse extensor digitorum longus-specific) of myofibrillar alpha-actinin. This specific isoform of alpha-actinin exhibits a more restricted pattern of expression in skeletal muscle than fast-twitch-specific isoforms of both myosin and Ca2+-ATPase. Our results provide evidence that dystrophin and myofibrillar alpha-actinin are related proteins, reinforcing the previous data concerning the sequence homologies noted between nonmuscle cytoskeletal alpha-actinin and dystrophin. In addition, we describe the first antisera directed against a specific myofibrillar skeletal muscle isoform of alpha-actinin.
authors.affiliation: Division of Genetics, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Slayter
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Kunkel
mesh_terms: D000185:Actinin / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D016189:Dystrophin; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007106:Immune Sera; D015151:Immunoblotting; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D009132:Muscles / Q000032:analysis*; D009210:Myofibrils / Q000032:analysis; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D016189:Dystrophin; D007106:Immune Sera; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D000185:Actinin