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Updated: Aug 18, 2026
Temporal Quantification of MAPK Induced Expression in Single Yeast Cells
Published on: October 4, 2013
Mouse myodulin, a new potential angiogenic factor, functionally expressed in yeast
Didier F Pisani1, Matthieu De Rivoyre, Laurent Ruel
1Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire, CNRS UMR 6548 Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Parc Valrose, 06108 Nice Cedex 2, France.
Abstract:
Myodulin is a new integral membrane protein down-regulated in skeletal muscle atrophy. A first characterization suggested that myodulin could be a skeletal muscle angiogenic factor operating through direct cell-to-cell interactions. Here, we show that mouse myodulin can be expressed at the plasma membrane of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and purified. Co-culture experiments of myoblasts and cardiac vascular endothelial cells reveal that myodulin, either presented in yeast membranes or in liposomes after purification, increases the invasive potential of endothelial cells with a similar efficiency as when over-expressed in skeletal muscle cells. Functional essays using myodulin expressed in yeast bring new information about the myodulin functional mechanism, suggesting that one or several muscle cell components could be necessary for myodulin to increase the invasive potential of endothelial cells. The yield of purified myodulin should allow structure-function relationships studies for a better understanding of myodulin functional mechanisms.
Insights
Myodulin, a protein linked to skeletal muscle atrophy, promotes endothelial cell invasion. This study demonstrates myodulin
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Myodulin is an integral membrane protein implicated in skeletal muscle atrophy.
- Previous research suggested myodulin acts as a skeletal muscle angiogenic factor via cell-to-cell interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional mechanism of myodulin in promoting endothelial cell invasion.
- To explore the potential of using yeast expression systems for myodulin production and study.
Main Methods:
- Expression and purification of mouse myodulin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
- Co-culture experiments with myoblasts and cardiac vascular endothelial cells.
- Functional assays using purified myodulin presented in yeast membranes or liposomes.
Main Results:
- Recombinant myodulin expressed in yeast effectively increased endothelial cell invasion potential.
- Purified myodulin, delivered via yeast membranes or liposomes, showed similar efficacy to overexpressed myodulin.
- Functional assays suggest muscle cell components may be necessary for myodulin's pro-invasive effects.
Conclusions:
- Myodulin can be functionally expressed and purified using a yeast system.
- Myodulin enhances endothelial cell invasion, a key process in angiogenesis.
- Further studies on myodulin's structure-function relationships are warranted for a deeper understanding of its mechanisms.
