M-cadherin localization in developing adult and regenerating mouse skeletal muscle: possible involvement in secondary myogenesis

Abstract

In this work, we investigated the distribution of the Ca(2+)-dependent cell adhesion molecule, M-cadherin, in mouse limb muscle during normal development and regeneration. Using two unrelated anti-M-cadherin peptide antibodies, we found scarce M-cadherin immunostaining during primary myogenesis (E12-E14) with no accumulation at areas of cell-cell contact. In contrast, the staining sharply increased in intensity at E16, remained high during secondary myogenesis (E16-P0) but disappeared soon after birth. During secondary myogenesis, M-cadherin was specifically accumulated at the characteristic sites of insertion of secondary myotubes in neighbouring primary myotubes. M-cadherin was also accumulated at the areas of contact between fusing secondary myoblasts and myotubes in vitro. In the adult normal and regenerating muscle, we did not detect M-cadherin accumulations at the surface of myofibres. All together, these observations suggest that M-cadherin is specifically involved in secondary myogenesis.

M-Cadherin Activates Rac1 GTPase through the Rho-GEF Trio during Myoblast Fusion

“…The function of Mcadherin and Rac1 in myoblast fusion may involve the GEF Trio, because Trio loss-of-function mouse showed that Trio is essential for late embryonic development and particularly for secondary myoblast fusion (O'Brien et al, 2000). Moreover, M-cadherin has been shown to accumulate at the areas of contact between fusing secondary myoblasts and myotubes (Cifuentes-Diaz et al, 1995). The Trio protein contains two putative GEF domains: one specific for RhoG and Rac1 (GEFD1) and the other for RhoA (GEFD2; Debant et al, 1996;Blangy et al, 2000).…”

“…M-cadherin is found predominantly in developing skeletal muscles and is highly expressed during secondary myogenesis. In mature skeletal muscle, M-cadherin is detectable in satellite cells and on the sarcolemma of myofibers underlying satellite cells (Moore and Walsh, 1993;Rose et al, 1994;Cifuentes-Diaz et al, 1995). M-cadherin is also found at neuromuscular junctions, intramuscular nerves, and in two regions of the CNS, namely the spinal cord and the cerebellum (Cifuentes-Diaz et al, 1996;Bahjaoui-Bouhaddi et al, 1997).…”

Myoblast fusion: lessons from flies and mice

“…For example, molecules such as musclecadherin (M-cadherin), integrins and a disintegrin and metalloprotease 12 (Adam12) are commonly found localized at the contact sites in both contacting muscle cells (Cifuentes-Diaz et al, 1995;Schwander et al, 2003;Lafuste et al, 2005;Brzoska et al, 2006). M-cadherin function is required for myotube formation in vitro (Zeschnigk et al, 1995;Charrasse et al, 2006) but not in vivo (Hollnagel et al, 2002), suggesting that other cadherins or cell adhesion molecules may functionally compensate for the lack of Mcadherin.…”

RhoA GTPase Regulates M-Cadherin Activity and Myoblast Fusion

“…M-cadherin is found predominantly in developing skeletal muscles and is highly expressed during secondary myogenesis. In mature skeletal muscle, M-cadherin is detectable in satellite cells and on the sarcolemma of myofibers underlying satellite cells (Moore and Walsh, 1993;Bornemann and Schmalbruch, 1994;Rose et al, 1994;Cifuentes-Diaz et al, 1995). M-cadherin is also found at neuromuscular junctions, intramuscular nerves, and in two regions of the central nervous system, namely, the spinal cord and the cerebellum (Cifuentes-Diaz et al, 1996;Bahjaoui-Bouhaddi et al, 1997).…”