Transdifferentiation of muscle to electric organ: regulation of muscle-specific proteins is independent of patterned nerve activity

Developmental Biology
J M Patterson, H H Zakon

Abstract

Transdifferentiation is the conversion of one differentiated cell type into another. The electric organ of fishes transdifferentiates from muscle but little is known about how this occurs. To begin to address this question, we studied the expression of muscle- and electrocyte-specific proteins with immunohistochemistry during regeneration of the electric organ. In the early stages of regeneration, a blastema forms. Blastemal cells cluster, express desmin, fuse into myotubes, and then express alpha-actinin, tropomyosin, and myosin. Myotubes in the periphery of the blastema continue to differentiate as muscle; those in the center grow in size, probably by fusing with each other, and lose their sarcomeres as they become electrocytes. Tropomyosin is rapidly down-regulated while desmin, alpha-actinin, and myosin continue to be diffusely expressed in newly formed electrocytes despite the absence of organized sarcomeres. During this time an isoform of keratin that is a marker for mature electrocytes is expressed. One week later, the immunoreactivities of myosin disappears and alpha-actinin weakens, while that of desmin and keratin remain strong. Since nerve fibers grow into the blastema preceding the appearance of any differentiated c...Continue Reading

References

Jun 1, 1978·The Journal of Comparative Neurology·G Q Fox, G P Richardson
Feb 1, 1975·Journal of Neurocytology·I R SchwartzM V Bennett
May 1, 1986·Developmental Biology·R Bischoff
Dec 1, 1974·The Anatomical Record·R Bischoff
Jan 1, 1983·Annual Review of Physiology·J R Sanes
Jan 1, 1982·Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology·E LazaridesS I Danto
May 1, 1993·Journal of Neurobiology·J M Patterson, H H Zakon
Apr 11, 1995·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·H TakekuraC Franzini-Armstrong
Jan 1, 1994·Cell Motility and the Cytoskeleton·D RheeJ W Sanger
Jul 1, 1993·Developmental Dynamics : an Official Publication of the American Association of Anatomists·J A AireyJ Talvenheimo
Jul 1, 1996·The Journal of Comparative Neurology·J M Patterson, H H Zakon
Sep 15, 1996·Developmental Biology·M B FerrariN C Spitzer
Jan 1, 1996·Developmental Neuroscience·H H Zakon

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Apr 1, 1999·Annual Review of Physiology·P D Kessler, B J Byrne
Sep 26, 2008·Developmental Dynamics : an Official Publication of the American Association of Anatomists·Hyun-Jung KimGraciela A Unguez
Jun 27, 2013·Journal of Neurogenetics·Bruce A Carlson, Jason R Gallant
Jun 17, 2003·The Anatomical Record. Part A, Discoveries in Molecular, Cellular, and Evolutionary Biology·David M Koester
Nov 2, 2006·FASEB Journal : Official Publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·Heriberto CuellarGraciela A Unguez
Oct 17, 2002·Journal of Neurobiology·Graciela A Unguez, Harold H Zakon
Jun 14, 2013·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Graciela A Unguez

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.