Abstract
The cofilin 2 (CFL2) and myosin heavy chain (MyHC) genes play a key role in muscle development and myofibrillar formation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of CFL2 on genes involved in fber formation and the mechanisms underlying this process. Undifferentiated and differentiated C2C12 cells (UDT and DT, respectively) were transfected with CFL2 small interfering RNA (siRNA). CFL2 mRNA and protein levels were assessed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting, respectively. MyHC gene expression in UDT and signaling pathway-related factors were observed with quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blotting. Fluorescence microscopy was used to analyze the cytoskeletal effects of CFL2. The mRNA and protein expressions of CFL2, four MyHC isoforms (MyHC-I, MyHC-IIa, MyHC-IIb and MyHC-IIx), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, cAMP-response element-binding protein, AMP-activated protein kinase a1, and myocyte enhancer factor 2C, were significantly decreased in UDT. However, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 expression was signifcantly increased. Slightly decreased CFL2 protein and mRNA expression was observed in DT C2C12 cells transfected with CFL2 siRNA. Fluorescence microscopy revealed a signifcant decrease of CFL2 in the cytoplasm, but not the nucleus, of UDT, compared with normal cells. These results indicated that the mouse CFL2 gene may be involved in the regulation of MyHC via the key signaling molecules of CFL2-related signaling pathways.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1096-1102 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | International journal of molecular medicine |
Volume | 41 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 2018 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The present study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundations of China (grant no. 31272415/C170102), the Natural Science Foundations of Liaoning Province (grant no. 2015020765) and the Training Programs of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Undergraduates of Liaoning Province (grant no. 201610160051).
Keywords
- Cofilin 2
- Gene expression
- Mouse
- Muscle
- Myosin heavy chain
- RNA interference