title: ZYX-1, the unique zyxin protein of Caenorhabditis elegans, is involved in dystrophin-dependent muscle degeneration.
abstract: In vertebrates, zyxin is a LIM-domain protein belonging to a family composed of seven members. We show that the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has a unique zyxin-like protein, ZYX-1, which is the orthologue of the vertebrate zyxin subfamily composed of zyxin, migfilin, TRIP6, and LPP. The ZYX-1 protein is expressed in the striated body-wall muscles and localizes at dense bodies/Z-discs and M-lines, as well as in the nucleus. In yeast two-hybrid assays ZYX-1 interacts with several known dense body and M-line proteins, including DEB-1 (vinculin) and ATN-1 (α-actinin). ZYX-1 is mainly localized in the middle region of the dense body/Z-disk, overlapping the apical and basal regions containing, respectively, ATN-1 and DEB-1. The localization and dynamics of ZYX-1 at dense bodies depend on the presence of ATN-1. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching experiments revealed a high mobility of the ZYX-1 protein within muscle cells, in particular at dense bodies and M-lines, indicating a peripheral and dynamic association of ZYX-1 at these muscle adhesion structures. A portion of the ZYX-1 protein shuttles from the cytoplasm into the nucleus, suggesting a role for ZYX-1 in signal transduction. We provide evidence that the zyx-1 gene encodes two different isoforms, ZYX-1a and ZYX-1b, which exhibit different roles in dystrophin-dependent muscle degeneration occurring in a C. elegans model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
authors: Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69622 Villeurbanne, France.
authors: Claire
authors: C
authors: Lecroisey
authors: Nicolas
authors: N
authors: Brouilly
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Qadota
authors: Marie-Christine
authors: MC
authors: Mariol
authors: Nicolas C
authors: NC
authors: Rochette
authors: Edwige
authors: E
authors: Martin
authors: Guy M
authors: GM
authors: Benian
authors: Laurent
authors: L
authors: Ségalat
authors: Nicole
authors: N
authors: Mounier
authors: Kathrin
authors: K
authors: Gieseler
mesh_terms: D000185:Actinin / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D016189:Dystrophin / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009132:Muscles / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010802:Phylogeny; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D021381:Protein Transport; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D060589:Zyxin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D016189:Dystrophin; D020033:Protein Isoforms; C532814:ZYX-1 protein, C elegans; D060589:Zyxin; D000185:Actinin