title: Emerin presence in platelets.
abstract: Emerin is an almost ubiquitous protein which is abnormal in X-linked Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EMD), a syndrome characterized by muscle weakness, joint contractures and cardiac arrhythmia. Emerin is localized in the cells at the nuclear rim and its function is still unknown. In some models, emerin has also been described in the cytoplasm; however, its presence outside the nucleus is still matter of debate. We report the presence of emerin in circulating normal human platelets and its absence in platelets from X-linked EMD patients. Since platelets are cytoplasmic fragments derived from megakaryocytes, the presence of emerin in platelets confirms cytoplasmic localization of this protein, probably related to specific functions. We found also that emerin is present in the cytoplasm of megakaryocytes, while it is absent in circulating granulocytes.
authors.affiliation: Ist. Citomorfologia N.P. CNR, IOR, Bologna, Italy. squarzoni@area.bo.cnr.it
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Squarzoni
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sabatelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Capanni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Petrini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ognibene
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Toniolo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cobianchi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zauli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bassini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baracca
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guarnieri
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Merlini
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Maraldi
mesh_terms: D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D008533:Megakaryocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000172:deficiency*; D020389:Muscular Dystrophy, Emery-Dreifuss / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D013946:Thymopoietins / Q000172:deficiency*
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D013946:Thymopoietins; C092710:emerin