A target of thrombin activation promotes cell cycle re-entry by urodele muscle cells

A key early event of newt limb regeneration is the local dedifferentiation of cells to form dividing progenitor cells. This involves the plasticity of differentiation and the ability to re-enter the cell cycle. In culture, differentiated newt myotubes are able to re-enter S-phase in response to serum stimulation. Here, we analyzed the intracellular and extracellular requirements for this process. Cell cycle re-entry depends on the phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein, which is a key regulator of the G1-S transition. This is in contrast to mammalian myotubes, which are refractory to serum stimulation and cannot phosphorylate retinoblastoma protein in response to serum. The serum factor responsible for this phosphorylation appears to be distinct from common polypeptide growth factors and is enriched in crude preparations of bovine thrombin. Fractionation and analysis of this preparation indicate that the factor is regulated by thrombin and plasmin proteolysis. These results indicate that factors involved in acute responses to wounding such as clotting may be important initiators of the regenerative response.