Differential expression and regulation of the PKA signalling pathway in fast and slow skeletal muscle

To identify intracellular signalling pathways that transduce muscle electrical activity, we have investigated the Protein Kinase A (PKA) pathway in fast and slow skeletal muscle. The slow soleus muscle (SOL) displayed approximately twice as much PKA catalytic activity and cAMP-binding compared to the fast Extensor Digitorum Longus (EDL) muscle. These results were confirmed by Western blot analysis using antibodies directed against the catalytic or regulatory subunits of PKA. PKA subunits were concentrated at the neuromuscular junction in innervated and denervated muscle fibers demonstrating that PKA is expressed post-synaptically. In addition, we also detected PKA subunits outside the junctional area, suggesting that PKA functions outside of the synaptic regions. Following denervation, levels of cyclic AMP, PKA C activity, R cAMP-binding and RI alpha protein levels increased significantly in the SOL, in contrast to the EDL where only elevated levels of RI alpha protein were observed. These observations demonstrate that PKA levels in skeletal muscle are subject to control at several levels and suggest that some of the differences may be in the pattern of electrical activity that motoneurons impose on the SOL and EDL.