title: Rat myoblast fusion requires metalloendoprotease activity.
abstract: The calcium-dependent fusion of cultured rat myoblasts to multinucleate myotubes appears to require the activity of a neutral metalloendoprotease at the time of fusion. Metalloendoprotease inhibitors and synthetic dipeptide substrates prevent myoblast fusion when added to fusion-competent myoblasts with the addition of calcium. Metalloendoprotease activity has been identified and partially characterized in myoblast membranes with a fluorogenic protease substrate, and is inhibited by the same compounds that prevent fusion.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002459:Cell Fusion / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D009132:Muscles / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases