Ontogeny of myosin isoform expression and prehensile function in the tail of the gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica)

Journal of Applied Physiology
Dylan R ThomasMichael T Butcher

Abstract

Terrestrial opossums use their semiprehensile tail for grasping nesting materials as opposed to arboreal maneuvering. We relate the development of this adaptive behavior with ontogenetic changes in myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform expression from 21 days to adulthood. Monodelphis domestica is expected to demonstrate a progressive ability to flex the distal tail up to age 7 mo, when it should exhibit routine nest construction. We hypothesize that juvenile stages (3-7 mo) will be characterized by retention of the neonatal isoform (MHC-Neo), along with predominant expression of fast MHC-2X and -2B, which will transition into greater MHC-1β and -2A isoform content as development progresses. This hypothesis was tested using Q-PCR to quantify and compare gene expression of each isoform with its protein content determined by gel electrophoresis and densitometry. These data were correlated with nesting activity in an age-matched sample of each age group studied. Shifts in regulation of MHC gene transcripts matched well with isoform expression. Notably, mRNA for MHC-Neo and -2B decrease, resulting in little-to-no isoform translation after age 7 mo, whereas mRNA for MHC-1β and -2A increase, and this corresponds with subtle increases in c...Continue Reading

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Citations

Nov 20, 2020·Journal of Comparative Physiology. B, Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology·Kyle B SpainhowerMichael T Butcher
Jul 10, 2021·The Anatomical Record : Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology·Lauren SahdSanet H Kotzé

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
dissection
electrophoresis
PCR
SMA

Software Mentioned

Quantity One
R
ImageJ

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