Dp71 can restore the dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex in muscle but fails to prevent dystrophy

GA Cox, Y Sunada, KP Campbell, JS Chamberlain - Nature genetics, 1994 - nature.com
Nature genetics, 1994nature.com
Two lines of transgenic mdx mice have been generated that express a 71 kD non-muscle
isoform of dystrophin (Dp71) in skeletal muscle. This isoform contains the cysteine-rich and
Oterminal domains of dystrophin, but lacks the N-terminal actin-binding and central spectrin-
like repeat domains. Dp71 was associated with the sarcolemma membrane, where it
restored normal expression and localization of all members of the dystrophin-associated
glycoprotein complex. However, the skeletal muscle pathology of the transgenic mdx mice …
Abstract
Two lines of transgenic mdx mice have been generated that express a 71 kD non-muscle isoform of dystrophin (Dp71) in skeletal muscle. This isoform contains the cysteine-rich and Oterminal domains of dystrophin, but lacks the N-terminal actin-binding and central spectrin-like repeat domains. Dp71 was associated with the sarcolemma membrane, where it restored normal expression and localization of all members of the dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex. However, the skeletal muscle pathology of the transgenic mdx mice remained severe. These results indicate that the dystrophin C terminus cannot function independently to prevent dystrophic symptoms and confirms predictions based on patient data that both the N and C-terminal domains are required for normal dystrophin function.
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