title: Changes in actin synthesis and alpha-actin-mRNA content in rat muscle during immobilization.
abstract: The fractional rates of actin synthesis in adult rat gastrocnemius muscle from control and 6-h hindlimb-immobilized animals were determined by the constant-infusion technique. The rate of actin synthesis in gastrocnemius muscle was significantly decreased from control values during the 6th h of hindlimb immobilization. The content of alpha-actin-specific mRNA was then estimated in adult rat gastrocnemius muscle from control, 6-h, 72-h, and 7-day immobilized animals by "dot blot" hybridization. RNA extracted from control and immobilized animals was secured on nitrocellulose filters and hybridized to 32P-labeled plasmid p749 (containing a cDNA sequence produced from rat alpha-actin mRNA). The relative content of alpha-actin-specific mRNA in gastrocnemius muscle was significantly decreased at 7 days of immobilization but not at 6 or 72 h of immobilization. It is concluded that a change in the content of alpha-actin mRNA does not contribute significantly to the rapid onset of the decrease in actin synthesis rate observed after 6 h of immobilization. An alteration in the translation of alpha-actin-specific mRNA must occur to account for the early decline in actin synthesis during immobilization.
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D005260:Female; D006614:Hindlimb; D007103:Immobilization; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism*; D010761:Phosphorus Radioisotopes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors; D014316:Tritium; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D010761:Phosphorus Radioisotopes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014316:Tritium; D014443:Tyrosine