Characterization of the Ubiquitin Specific Protease (USP) family members in the fast and slow muscle fibers from Chinese perch (Siniperca chuatsi)

Skeletal muscle atrophy results from fasting, disuse and other systemic diseases. Muscle atrophy is associated with increased muscle protein degradation via the Ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). The Ubiquitin Specific Proteases (USPs), also known as deubiquitinating enzymes, regulates a wide variety of cellular processes in skeletal muscle. In our study, among the 41 members of the USP family identified in the skeletal muscle transcriptome of Chinese perch, 24 USPs were differentially expressed between the fast and slow muscle fibers. The expressional profile of 4 muscle-related USPs (USP10, USP14, USP19, USP45) was investigated in the fast and slow muscle in response to fasting at 4 and 7 days. The results showed that the expression of USP10, USP14 and USP19 was significantly increased in the fast muscle after fasting for 4 days and 7 days. But only the USP10 and USP14 had significantly increased at 7 days of fasting in the slow muscle. The expression of MAFbx and MuRF1 up-regulated and major myofibrillar genes down-regulated, indicating that all of these four USPs are involved in the protein degradation of the fast and slow muscle.