The cell adhesion molecule M-cadherin is specifically expressed in developing and regenerating, but not denervated skeletal muscle.
The spatiotemporal distribution of M-cadherin mRNA has been determined by in situ hybridization in the mouse embryo and in adult skeletal muscle following experimental regeneration and denervation. M-cadherin mRNA is highly tissue specific and is found only in developing skeletal muscle. In contrast, N-cadherin mRNA has a broader tissue distribution in the embryo, being found on both neural elements and skeletal and cardiac muscle. M-cadherin is expressed in the myotomes shortly after they form, along with the myogenic regulatory factor myogenin. M-cadherin is expressed in muscles derived from the myotomes and is detected in forelimb bud precursor cells at embryonic day 11.5. In the latter case M-cadherin expression appears co-ordinately with that of myogenin and cardiac alpha-actin. Shortly before birth, M-cadherin expression is down regulated. M-cadherin can, however, be re-expressed following experimental regeneration of skeletal muscle. Here M-cadherin is transiently expressed on regenerating myoblasts but not myotubes. Following muscle denervation no evidence was found for re-expression of M-cadherin under conditions where there was strong expression of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor on myofibres. The highly specific tissue distribution and unique developmental profile distinguishes M-cadherin from other cadherins and suggests a role in cell surface events during early myogenesis.
Moore
R
R
Department of Experimental Pathology, UMDS, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
Walsh
F S
FS
D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009121:Muscle Denervation; D009132:Muscles / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology*; D018008:Myogenin / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics
D000199:Actins; D015820:Cadherins; C503801:Myog protein, mouse; D018008:Myogenin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015534:Trans-Activators