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Control of myogenic factor genes by the membrane depolarization/protein kinase C cascade in chick skeletal muscle

C F Huang1, C M Neville, J Schmidt

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, State University of New York, Stony Brook 11794.

FEBS Letters
|March 15, 1993
PubMed

Insights

Electrical stimulation differentially affects myogenic factor genes in chick skeletal muscle. Myogenin gene activity rapidly declines, suggesting a key role in acetylcholine receptor gene activation during denervation.

Area of Science:

  • Muscle physiology
  • Molecular biology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Denervation of skeletal muscle leads to significant changes in gene expression.
  • Acetylcholine receptor (AChR) gene expression is rapidly downregulated following denervation.
  • Myogenic factor genes play crucial roles in muscle development and maintenance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the differential response of myogenic factor genes to electrical stimulation in denervated chick skeletal muscle.
  • To elucidate the role of myogenin in the regulation of AChR gene activity during denervation supersensitivity.
  • To examine the involvement of Protein Kinase C (PKC) signaling in these processes.

Main Methods:

  • Electrical stimulation of denervated chick skeletal muscle.
  • Quantitative analysis of myogenic factor gene activity (myogenin, MyoD, myf5, herculin).
  • Pharmacological manipulation using PKC activator (PMA) and kinase inhibitor (staurosporine).

Main Results:

  • Myogenin gene activity declined rapidly (t1/2 ≈ 2 min) post-denervation, mirroring AChR gene inactivation.
  • Other myogenic bHLH genes (MyoD, myf5, herculin) showed slower or no decline in activity.
  • PKC activation rapidly blocked myogenin transcription; electrical stimulation's effect was abolished by PKC inhibition or depletion.

Conclusions:

  • Myogenin exhibits a unique, rapid response to denervation, distinct from other myogenic factors.
  • Myogenin plays a specialized role in activating AChR genes during denervation supersensitivity.
  • PKC signaling is critical for the rapid inactivation of myogenin gene transcription following denervation.

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