Restoration of Functional Glycosylation of α-Dystroglycan in FKRP Mutant Mice Is Associated with Muscle Regeneration

Mutations in fukutin-related protein (FKRP) gene are characterized with lack of functionally glycosylated α-dystroglycan (F-α-DG). Surprisingly, a few muscle fibers express strong F-α-DG. Herein, we investigated the restoration of F-α-DG in the FKRP mutant muscles and showed that the restoration of glycosylation is associated with muscle regeneration and dependent on the expression of both like-glycosyltransferase (LARGE) and partially functional FKRP. F-α-DG in the regenerating fibers reaches up to normal levels and lasts for >4 weeks, but no up-regulation of the LARGE and FKRP is detected during the regeneration process. The FKRP protein with P448L mutation is sufficient for functional glycosylation of α-DG in regenerating fibers, but not in mature fibers. Thus, factors other than FKRP enable regenerating fibers to produce functional α-DG, compensating for the defect in FKRP function. Identification of factors other than LARGE and FKRP could generate new approaches for restoration of F-α-DG in mature muscle fibers with defects in FKRP functions.