Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Dr Sandra Murphy
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. The systematic bioanalytical characterization of the protein product of the DMD gene, which is defective in the pediatric disorder Duchenne muscular dystrophy, led to the discovery of the membrane cytoskeletal protein dystrophin. Its full-length muscle isoform Dp427-M is tightly linked to a sarcolemma-associated complex consisting of dystroglycans, sarcoglyans, sarcospan, dystrobrevins and syntrophins. Besides these core members of the dystrophin–glycoprotein complex, the wider dystrophin-associated network includes key proteins belonging to the intracellular cytoskeleton and microtubular assembly, the basal lamina and extracellular matrix, various plasma membrane proteins and cytosolic components. Here, we review the central role of the dystrophin complex as a master node in muscle fibers that integrates cytoskeletal organization and cellular signaling at the muscle periphery, as well as providing sarcolemmal stabilization and contractile force transmission to the extracellular region. The combination of optimized tissue extraction, subcellular fractionation, advanced protein co-purification strategies, immunoprecipitation, liquid chromatography and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis with modern mass spectrometry-based proteomics has confirmed the composition of the core dystrophin complex at the sarcolemma membrane. Importantly, these biochemical and mass spectrometric surveys have identified additional members of the wider dystrophin network including biglycan, cavin, synemin, desmoglein, tubulin, plakoglobin, cytokeratin and a variety of signaling proteins and ion channels.
Author(s): Dowling P, Gargan S, Murphy S, Zweyer M, Sabir H, Swandulla D, Ohlendieck K
Publication type: Review
Publication status: Published
Journal: Proteomes
Year: 2021
Volume: 9
Issue: 1
Online publication date: 02/02/2021
Acceptance date: 27/01/2021
ISSN (electronic): 2227-7382
Publisher: MDPI AG
URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/proteomes9010009
DOI: 10.3390/proteomes9010009
