Effect of starvation on expression of troponin complex genes and ER stress associated genes in skeletal muscles

Abstract

Little is known about the mechanism of gene expression changes in skeletal muscle during starvation. This study investigated the influence of starvation on gene expression of troponin complex (TnC, TnI and TnT), tropomyosin (Tpm), and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress associated proteins (BiP, calreticulin, PDI, and ATF6) in three kinds of skeletal muscles of Gryllus bimaculatus. Dorsal ventral flight muscle (DVM), dorsal longitudinal, and dorsal wing flight muscles (DWM) were identified as typical skeletal muscles by H&E staining. Obvious gene expression was detected in the DVM, but not in the DLM or DWM. In addition to gene expression in DVM, gene expression of decorin, a type of myokine, was also significantly increased by starvation. This is the first study that reports the effect of starvation on expression of troponin complex genes and ER stress associated genes in three types of skeletal muscles.

Molecular Characterization of Tropomyosin and Its Potential Involvement in Muscle Contraction in Pacific Abalone

“…The present study found upregulated expression of Hdh-TPM during the first week of starvation in the mantle and muscle tissues. In crickets, upregulated expression of TPM was also previously reported during short-term starvation [52]. However, after the first week, the expression of Hdh-TPM significantly increased in the mantle and decreased in the muscle (not significant) until refeeding.…”

“…Starvation is one of the common nutritional stresses that can affect abalone body physiology, by influencing the expression of several genes [52]. The present study found upregulated expression of Hdh-TPM during the first week of starvation in the mantle and muscle tissues.…”