Premium
Ste20‐like kinase SLK displays myofiber type specificity and is involved in C2C12 myoblast differentiation
Author(s) -
Storbeck Christopher J.,
Daniel Kate,
Zhang YiHong,
Lunde John,
Scime Anthony,
Asakura Atsushi,
Jasmin Bernard,
Korneluk Robert G.,
Sabourin Luc A.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.20000
Subject(s) - c2c12 , myocyte , myf5 , microbiology and biotechnology , myogenesis , cellular differentiation , biology , myod , genetics , gene
Cell growth and terminal differentiation are controlled by complex signaling cascades that regulate the expression of specific subsets of genes implicated in cell fate and morphogenic processes. We have recently cloned and characterized a novel Ste20‐like kinase termed SLK that is associated with adhesion structures during cell adhesion and spreading. However, the specific function of SLK is poorly understood. To gain further insight into the role of SLK, we have characterized its activity, expression, and distribution in skeletal muscle and during the in vitro differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts. Although SLK is expressed ubiquitously in adult tissues, our results show that it is predominantly expressed in muscle masses during development. Furthermore, SLK activity is upregulated during the differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts. In addition, we have found that SLK localizes presynaptically at neuromuscular junctions and that it is preferentially expressed in types I and IIA myofibers at major myofibrillar striations. Supporting a role in myoblast function and differentiation, SLK expression is induced in Myf5‐ and Pax7‐positive activated satellite cells during regeneration and expression of dominant negative SLK in C2C12 cultures impairs myoblast fusion, suggesting a role for SLK in muscle cell differentiation. Muscle Nerve 29: 553–564, 2004