title: Severe myopathy in mice lacking the MEF2/SRF-dependent gene leiomodin-3.
abstract: Maintenance of skeletal muscle structure and function requires a precise stoichiometry of sarcomeric proteins for proper assembly of the contractile apparatus. Absence of components of the sarcomeric thin filaments causes nemaline myopathy, a lethal congenital muscle disorder associated with aberrant myofiber structure and contractility. Previously, we reported that deficiency of the kelch-like family member 40 (KLHL40) in mice results in nemaline myopathy and destabilization of leiomodin-3 (LMOD3). LMOD3 belongs to a family of tropomodulin-related proteins that promote actin nucleation. Here, we show that deficiency of LMOD3 in mice causes nemaline myopathy. In skeletal muscle, transcription of Lmod3 was controlled by the transcription factors SRF and MEF2. Myocardin-related transcription factors (MRTFs), which function as SRF coactivators, serve as sensors of actin polymerization and are sequestered in the cytoplasm by actin monomers. Conversely, conditions that favor actin polymerization de-repress MRTFs and activate SRF-dependent genes. We demonstrated that the actin nucleator LMOD3, together with its stabilizing partner KLHL40, enhances MRTF-SRF activity. In turn, SRF cooperated with MEF2 to sustain the expression of LMOD3 and other components of the contractile apparatus, thereby establishing a regulatory circuit to maintain skeletal muscle function. These findings provide insight into the molecular basis of the sarcomere assembly and muscle dysfunction associated with nemaline myopathy.
authors.forename: Bercin K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Cenik
authors.forename: Ankit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: McAnally
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Shelton
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Rhonda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bassel-Duby
authors.forename: Eric N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D052283:Creatine Kinase, MM Form / Q000235:genetics; D005183:Failure to Thrive / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D064326:MEF2 Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017696:Myopathies, Nemaline / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009928:Organ Specificity; D058105:Polymerization; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012518:Sarcomeres / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D026362:Serum Response Factor / Q000502:physiology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000502:physiology; D019076:Transgenes
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; C000593493:Kbtbd5 protein, mouse; D064326:MEF2 Transcription Factors; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D026362:Serum Response Factor; D015534:Trans-Activators; C000598980:leiomodin-3 protein, mouse; D052283:Creatine Kinase, MM Form