Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
2131870 Experimental Cell Research 2009 8 Pages PDF
Abstract

We investigated the targeting of the γ-actin isoform in skeletal myofibers. For this purpose we used expression vectors to produce green fluorescent protein (GFP-) as well as myc-tagged γ-actin in rat flexor digitorum brevis myofibers. We found that the γ-actin fusion proteins accumulated into Z discs but not beneath the sarcolemma. Instead, the GFP-tagged skeletal muscle-specific α-actin isoform was preferentially incorporated into the pointed ends of thin contractile filaments. The localization pattern of the γ-actin fusion proteins was completely different from that of the dystrophin glycoprotein complex on the sarcolemma. The results emphasize the role of γ-actin as a Z disc component but fail to reveal an actin-based sub-sarcolemmal cytoskeleton in skeletal muscle cells.

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