Post-natal developmental expression of alphaKAP splice variants in rabbit fast-twitch and slow-twitch skeletal muscle

J Muscle Res Cell Motil. 2004;25(4-5):309-14. doi: 10.1007/s10974-004-1685-0.

Abstract

AlphaKAP is a non-kinase product of a gene within alpha CaMKII gene, that anchors catalytic subunits to skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum. alphaKAP gene expresses two distinct mRNA transcripts by alternative splicing in rabbit fast muscle, rather than one, as an apparently fiber-type specific and species-specific property. We report on the expression profile of alphaKAP gene in fast and slow muscles of adult rats and in rabbit post-natal developing muscles, by RT-PCR analysis of muscle RNA, together with Western blot analysis of expressed alphaKAP protein isoforms. We show that alphaKAP isoform predominantly expressed in muscle of newborn rabbits, corresponds to the fast-adult isoform. In fast muscle, the transition from neonatal isoform to the common adult isoform takes place early after birth, and is never complete, unlike in slow muscle. Relevant to these findings, is the observation that neonatal/embryonic alphaKAP mRNA is highly expressed in rat myotubes grown in vitro. Together, our findings suggest that alphaKAP splicing pathways are primarily modulated according to muscle developmental stage.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing / genetics
  • Alternative Splicing / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / genetics
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / physiology*
  • Muscle Fibers, Fast-Twitch / metabolism*
  • Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Rabbits
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Sarcoplasmic Reticulum / genetics
  • Sarcoplasmic Reticulum / metabolism

Substances

  • Protein Isoforms
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases

Grants and funding