Myosin light chain gene expression in developing and denervated fetal muscle in the mouse

We have investigated the accumulation of mRNA transcripts of the atrial (or embryonic) myosin light chain MLC1A (MLC1emb), and the two adult fast muscle myosin light chains (MLC1F and MLC3F) during fetal skeletal muscle development in the mouse. In 15-day fetal muscle, MLC1A is the predominant mRNA detectable, by 18 days MLC1F has become the major transcript and MLC3F mRNA is detectable for the first time. By 12 days after birth, MLC1A transcripts are undetectable and MLC1F and MLC3F are similar in abundance. In fetuses treated with beta-bungarotoxin and which therefore develop in the absence of functional nerve, MLC1A and MLC1F undergo normal transitions but MLC3F mRNA accumulation is significantly retarded. This demonstrates that these myosin light chain mRNAs accumulate with differing kinetics, and that MLC3F mRNA accumulation is nerve-dependent during fetal development. The results are discussed in terms of secondary muscle fibre formation, and in relation to the independent regulation of MLC1F and MLC3F mRNAs which are transcribed from the same gene.