title: Glycosphingolipid biosynthesis during myogenesis of rat L6 cells in vitro.
abstract: Glycosphingolipid biosynthesis was examined using [3H]-galactose as a precursor as rat L6 myoblasts fused to form multinucleated myotubes. Incorporation of label into neutral glycolipids decreased steadily as the population of myotubes increased, so that final biosynthesis was one-half that observed with myoblasts (p less than 0.02). Conversely, ganglioside biosynthesis doubled during myoblast confluency (p less than 0.02) and then decreased as myotubes formed. Qualitatively, L6 cells synthesized large amounts of ganglioside GM3 during all myogenic phases. The major neutral glycosphingolipid products were lactosylceramide and paragloboside (nLcOse4Cer). Few changes in TLC autoradiographic patterns were noted during differentiation, with the exception of a slight decrease in ganglioside GM1. The results indicate that the biosynthesis of glycosphingolipids is tightly regulated during myogenesis in vitro and suggest a role for membrane gangliosides in muscle cell differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425.
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Leskawa
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Erwin
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Buse
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Hogan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D006020:Glycopeptides / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006028:Glycosphingolipids / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007700:Kinetics; D009132:Muscles / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D006020:Glycopeptides; D006028:Glycosphingolipids