Premium
Contractile activity is required for Z ‐disc sarcomere maturation in vivo
Author(s) -
Geach Timothy J.,
Hirst Elizabeth M.A.,
Zimmerman Lyle B.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
genesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.093
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1526-968X
pISSN - 1526-954X
DOI - 10.1002/dvg.22851
Subject(s) - sarcomere , myosin , microbiology and biotechnology , xenopus , in vivo , anatomy , ultrastructure , biology , contraction (grammar) , contractility , muscle contraction , embryo , myofibril , myocyte , genetics , biochemistry , endocrinology , gene
Summary Sarcomere structure underpins structural integrity, signaling, and force transmission in the muscle. In embryos of the frog Xenopus tropicalis , muscle contraction begins even while sarcomerogenesis is ongoing. To determine whether contractile activity plays a role in sarcomere formation in vivo , chemical tools were used to block acto‐myosin contraction in embryos of the frog X. tropicalis , and Z‐disc assembly was characterized in the paralyzed dicky ticker mutant. Confocal and ultrastructure analysis of paralyzed embryos showed delayed Z‐disc formation and defects in thick filament organization. These results suggest a previously undescribed role for contractility in sarcomere maturation in vivo . genesis 53:299–307, 2015. © 2015 The Authors. Genesis Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.