Expression of phosphoglycerate mutase mRNA in differentiating rat satellite cell cultures

Assessing the translational landscape of myogenic differentiation by ribosome profiling

The formation of skeletal muscles is associated with drastic changes in protein requirements known to be safeguarded by tight control of gene transcription and mRNA processing. The contribution of regulation of mRNA translation during myogenesis has not been studied so far. We monitored translation during myogenic differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts, using a simplified protocol for ribosome footprint profiling. Comparison of ribosome footprints to total RNA showed that gene expression is mostly regulated at the transcriptional level. However, a subset of transcripts, enriched for mRNAs encoding for ribosomal proteins, was regulated at the level of translation. Enrichment was also found for specific pathways known to regulate muscle biology. We developed a dedicated pipeline to identify translation initiation sites (TISs) and discovered 5333 unannotated TISs, providing a catalog of upstream and alternative open reading frames used during myogenesis. We identified 298 transcripts with a significant switch in TIS usage during myogenesis, which was not explained by alternative promoter usage, as profiled by DeepCAGE. Also these transcripts were enriched for ribosomal protein genes. This study demonstrates that differential mRNA translation controls protein expression of specific subsets of genes during myogenesis. Experimental protocols, analytical workflows, tools and data are available through public repositories (http://lumc.github.io/ribosome-profiling-analysis-framework/).

Effects of thyroid hormone on mRNAs of phosphoglycerate mutase subunits in rat muscle during development

BACKGROUND

We previously showed that triiodothyronine (T3) stimulates muscle phosphoglycerate mutase (PGAM) activity and isozyme transition in rat skeletal and cardiac muscles.

METHODS

The effects of T3 on PGAM types B and M subunit expression in rat muscle during development are reported.

RESULTS

T3 administration during the first 21 days of rat life more than doubles type M PGAM mRNA levels, but produces minor effects on type B PGAM mRNA levels. The antihormone propylthiouracil (PTU) slightly decreases both type B and M mRNA levels, but this decrease is not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Thyroid hormone influences PGAM mRNA isozyme levels differently and increases type M mRNA.

Dynamic distribution and formation of a para-sarcomeric banding pattern of prosomes during myogenic differentiation of satellite cells in vitro

Myogenesis proceeds by fusion of proliferating myoblasts into myotubes under the control of various transcription factors. In adult skeletal muscle, myogenic stem cells are represented by the satellite cells which can be cultured and differentiate in vitro. This system was used to investigate the subcellular distribution of a particular type of prosomes at different steps of the myogenic process. Prosomes constitute the MCP core of the 26S proteasomes but were first observed as subcomplexes of the untranslated mRNPs; recently, their RNase activity was discovered. A monoclonal antibody raised against the p27K subunit showed that the p27K subunit-specific prosomes move transiently into the nucleus prior to the onset of myoblast fusion into myotubes; this represents possibly one of the first signs of myoblast switching into the differentiation pathway. Prior to fusion, the prosomes containing the p27K subunit return to the cytoplasm, where they align with the gradually formed lengthwise-running desmin-type intermediate filaments and the microfilaments, co-localizing finally with the actin bundles. The prosomes progressively form discontinuous punctate structures which eventually develop a pseudo-sarcomeric banding pattern. In myotubes just formed in vitro, the formation of this pattern seems to preceed that produced by the muscle-specific sarcomeric (alpha)-actin. Interestingly, this pattern of prosomes of myotubes in terminal in vitro differentiation was very similar to that of prosomes observed in vivo in foetal and adult muscle. These observations are discussed in relation to molecular myogenesis and prosome/proteasome function.

Phosphoglycerate mutase, 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate phosphatase and creatine kinase activity and isoenzymes in human brain tumours

The distribution of phosphoglycerate mutase (EC 5.4.2.1, PGM), 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.13, BPGP) and creatine kinase (EC 2.7.3.2, CK) activity and isoenzymes in various regions of adult human brain and in brain tumours (astrocytomas, anaplastic astrocytomas, glioblastomas and meningiomas) has been determined using electrophoresis. PGM and cytosolic CK exist in mammalian tissues as three isoenzymes that result from the homodimeric and heterodimeric combinations of two subunits [types M (muscle) and B (brain)] coded by separated genes. In addition, a dimeric form and an octameric form of mitochondrial CK exist in mammals. Type BB-PGM was the major PGM isoenzyme found in normal brain, although type MB-PGM and type MM-PGM were also detected. All brain tumours possessed lower PGM activity than normal brain, and meningiomas showed higher BPGP activity. In astrocytic tumours, the proportion of type MB- and type MM-PGM decreased, and in meningiomas these isoenzymes were not detected. Type BB-CK and mitochondrial CK were the only CK isoenzymes detected in normal brain. Astrocytomas possessed lower CK activity than anaplastic astrocytomas and glioblastomas and, in addition, tended to possess lower CK content than normal brain. No qualitative changes of the normal CK isoenzyme pattern were observed in the tumours.

Distribution of phosphoglycerate mutase isozymes in rat, rabbit and human tissues

The distribution of phosphoglycerate mutase isozymes (types MM, MB and BB) in rat, rabbit and human tissues has been studied by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate and by highly-resolutive ion exchange chromatography. In the three species, muscle is the tissue with higher phosphoglycerate mutase activity. Heart is the only tissue with the three phosphoglycerate mutase isozymes in substantial amounts. Skeletal muscle contains mostly type MM isozyme and the other tissues possess almost exclusively type BB isozyme. Even in the presence of inhibitors, adenylate kinase can interfere with the staining reactions when large samples are analyzed and a long period of incubation is required.

The gene encoding rat phosphoglycerate mutase subunit M: cloning and promoter analysis in skeletal muscle cells

The expression of the gene encoding the muscle-specific (M)-subunit of phosphoglycerate mutase (PGAM-M) is restricted to adult skeletal and cardiac muscle. In order to study its expression in muscle, the rat PGAM-M gene has been isolated and sequenced. Rat PGAM-M spans about 2.2 kb and is composed of three exons: 442, 181 and 186-bp long, and two introns of 97 bp and 1.3 bp. The analysis of the 5'-flanking region reveals a promoter which contains multiple DNA regulatory elements and constitutes an ideal model to study muscle gene transcriptional regulation. Thus, the elements responsible for rat PGAM-M muscle-specific expression have been identified by transient transfection in chicken embryo primary cultures, using chimeric constructs of the rat promoter linked to a cat reporter gene. Here, we report that in spite of the abundance of E-box motifs in the rat PGAM-M promoter known for their involvement in muscle gene expression, two DNA elements regulate the muscle-specific transcription of rat PGAM-M: an A/T motif, the putative MEF-2-binding site (myocyte-specific enhancer-binding factor 2), and a proximal 27-bp element which is conserved between the rat and human genes. These two elements define a small promoter (170 bp) sufficient to support potent and skeletal-muscle-specific expression. The conserved 27-bp region contains a transcriptional regulatory element able to confer muscle-specific expression when located upstream from a heterologous TATA box.

Skeletal muscle satellite cells

Evidence now suggests that satellite cells constitute a class of myogenic cells that differ distinctly from other embryonic myoblasts. Satellite cells arise from somites and first appear as a distinct myoblast type well before birth. Satellite cells from different muscles cannot be functionally distinguished from one another and are able to provide nuclei to all fibers without regard to phenotype. Thus, it is difficult to ascribe any significant function to establishing or stabilizing fiber type, even during regeneration. Within a muscle, satellite cells exhibit marked heterogeneity with respect to their proliferative behavior. The satellite cell population on a fiber can be partitioned into those that function as stem cells and those which are readily available for fusion. Recent studies have shown that the cells are not simply spindle shaped, but are very diverse in their morphology and have multiple branches emanating from the poles of the cells. This finding is consistent with other studies indicating that the cells have the capacity for extensive migration within, and perhaps between, muscles. Complexity of cell shape usually reflects increased cytoplasmic volume and organelles including a well developed Golgi, and is usually associated with growing postnatal muscle or muscles undergoing some form of induced adaptive change or repair. The appearance of activated satellite cells suggests some function of the cells in the adaptive process through elaboration and secretion of a product. Significant advances have been made in determining the potential secretion products that satellite cells make. The manner in which satellite cell proliferative and fusion behavior is controlled has also been studied. There seems to be little doubt that cellcell coupling is not how satellite cells and myofibers communicate. Rather satellite cell regulation is through a number of potential growth factors that arise from a number of sources. Critical to the understanding of this form of control is to determine which of the many growth factors that can alter satellite cell behavior in vitro are at work in vivo. Little work has been done to determine what controls are at work after a regeneration response has been initiated. It seems likely that, after injury, growth factors are liberated through proteolytic activity and initiate an activation process whereby cells enter into a proliferative phase. After myofibers are formed, it also seems likely that satellite cell behavior is regulated through diffusible factors arising from the fibers rather than continuous control by circulating factors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Thyroid hormone stimulates phosphoglycerate mutase activity and isozyme transition in rat muscle tissues

Triiodothyronine (T3) increases phosphoglycerate mutase (PGAM) specific activity in rat skeletal and cardiac muscles. This increase is concomitant with an increase in the proportion of phosphoglycerate mutase isozymes which contain type-M subunit. Propylthiouracil (PTU), an anti-hormone, not only decreases phosphoglycerate mutase activity with respect to control rats, but also decreases the total M subunit contents. In liver, which only possesses type-B subunit phosphoglycerate mutase, none of the effects were detected.

Stimulation of rat satellite cell myogenesis by inhibitors of ser/thr protein kinases

Satellite cells are involved in physiological growth and post-traumatic regeneration of adult skeletal muscle fibres. In this study, it is shown that differentiation of primary cultures of rat satellite cells is increased by inhibitors of ser/thr protein kinases such as iso-H7, which both inhibit cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and protein kinase C (PKC) activities, and HA1004, a PKA inhibitor. These results, showing a preponderant effect of PKA inhibition on myogenesis in vitro, prompted the effects of iso-H7 on muscular regeneration in vivo to be tested. Preliminary results showed that regeneration of rat muscle EDL was improved by iso-H7 treatment.

Isolation and sequencing of a cDNA encoding the B isozyme of rat phosphoglycerate mutase

Phosphoglycerate mutase consists of two kinds of different subunits, M and B. We previously sequenced a rat cDNA encoding the type-M subunit. Here, we report the sequence of the type-B subunit-encoding cDNA. This cDNA has 1754 bp and contains a long 3'-untranslated region of 897 bp.