Nuclear localization of Myomesin-1: possible functions

J Muscle Res Cell Motil. 2008;29(1):1-8. doi: 10.1007/s10974-008-9137-x. Epub 2008 Jun 3.

Abstract

Myomesin-I (also known as Skelemin) is a approximately 185 kDa protein, which is highly expressed in striated muscle. It contains the prototypic class-I (type-III fibronectin) and class-II (C2-immunoglobulin) motifs. Previous studies have shown the presence of Myomesin-I at the M-line of the sarcomere, where it is thought to interact with thick filament constituents. As reported previously, Myomesin-I was localized to the M-line in the adult cardiac myocytes (adult-myocytes). However, we found that Myomesin-I was also present exclusively in the nucleus of myocytes isolated from new born pups (neonatal-myocytes). In addition, the ectopically expressed Myomesin-I was primarily targeted to the nucleus, similar to the neonatal myocytes. Further investigations revealed that the nuclear-targeting signals were present within the N-terminal 256 residues. A strong consensus sequence for sumoylation is present within the N-terminal 256 residues and is implicated in the shuttling of Myomesin-I between nucleus and cytoplasm. Gene array analysis showed that the presence of Myomesin-I in the nucleus led to the differential expression of more than 42 genes. These studies show a novel and previously unknown localization and function for Myomesin-I.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • CHO Cells
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism*
  • Connectin
  • Cricetinae
  • Cricetulus
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Down-Regulation
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Muscle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / cytology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / cytology
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism*
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Sarcomeres / metabolism*
  • Transfection
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Connectin
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Muscle Proteins
  • Myom1 protein, mouse
  • Myom1 protein, rat