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Published on: November 13, 2014
Beta-Catenin and SMAD3 Are Associated with Skeletal Muscle Aging in the Taurine Transpoeter Knockout Mouse
Takashi Ito1, Nao Yamamoto2, Shintaro Nakajima2
1Department of Bioscience, Fukui Prefectural University, Fukui, Japan. tito@fpu.ac.jp.
Abstract:
Tissue taurine depletion mediated by knocking out the taurine transporter causes several skeletal muscle abnormalities, including acceleration of cellular aging. In the present study, we investigated the signaling pathway involved in the acceleration of skeletal muscle aging by tissue taurine depletion using the bioinformatic approach of transcriptome data. We previously performed transcriptome analysis on skeletal muscle of taurine transporter knockout (TauTKO) mice using DNA microarray. Bioinformatic analysis of transcriptome data predicted the activation of SMAD3 and β-catenin as upstream signaling molecules of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A, also called p16INK4A), which is a biomarker gene of cellular senescence. The activation of SMAD3 and β-catenin in old TauTKO muscle was verified by western blot analysis. These data indicate that SMAD3- and β-catenin-dependent induction occurs in the TauTKO mouse.
Insights
Mice lacking the taurine transporter show accelerated skeletal muscle aging. This aging is linked to the activation of SMAD3 and beta-catenin signaling pathways, impacting cellular senescence biomarkers.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Taurine is crucial for cellular function.
- Taurine transporter knockout (TauTKO) mice exhibit skeletal muscle abnormalities and accelerated aging.
- The specific molecular pathways driving this aging process are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the signaling pathways responsible for accelerated skeletal muscle aging in TauTKO mice.
- To identify upstream regulators of cellular senescence in taurine-depleted muscle.
Main Methods:
- Bioinformatic analysis of transcriptome data from TauTKO mouse skeletal muscle.
- DNA microarray for transcriptome profiling.
- Western blot analysis to verify protein activation.
Main Results:
- Transcriptome data predicted activation of SMAD3 and beta-catenin signaling.
- These molecules are upstream regulators of CDKN2A (p16INK4A), a cellular senescence biomarker.
- Western blot confirmed SMAD3 and beta-catenin activation in aged TauTKO muscle.
Conclusions:
- Tissue taurine depletion accelerates skeletal muscle aging via SMAD3 and beta-catenin signaling.
- This pathway leads to the induction of CDKN2A, a marker of cellular senescence.
- Understanding this pathway offers insights into age-related muscle decline.
