title: Induction of acetylcholine receptor cluster formation by local application of growth factors in cultured Xenopus muscle cells.
abstract: A survey of several growth factors was carried out to determine their effect on the formation of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clusters in cultured Xenopus muscle cells. Factors were locally applied via polystyrene beads and AChR clustering at bead-muscle contacts was assessed. Among the factors tested, basic fibroblast growth factor, insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I, as well as several polycations, were found to be effective in inducing AChR clusters. The action of these molecules appears to be mediated by tyrosine kinase receptors, since it can be blocked by a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. These results suggest that local ligand-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation is involved in the formation of AChR clusters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 27599, USA.
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000494:pharmacology; D009132:Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000378:metabolism*; D013498:Suramin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014981:Xenopus
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D013498:Suramin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I