Introduction: Muscle growth and regeneration are processes closely associated with proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of muscle cells. Death-associated protein 1 (DAP1) has been identified as a negative regulator of autophagy. Little is known about the function of DAP1 in the regulation of myogenesis and satellite cells.
Methods: Chicken satellite cells were transfected with DAP1 cloned into the pCMS-enhanced green fluorescent protein vector or pcDNA3.1 vector, or a small interference RNA against the endogenous DAP1 gene. The cells were assayed for proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis.
Results: The overexpression of DAP1 increased proliferation, differentiation, and myotube diameter, but it had no effect on satellite cell apoptosis. In contrast, knockdown of DAP1 significantly decreased proliferation, differentiation, and number of nuclei per myotube, and it increased apoptosis of the cells.
Conclusion: DAP1 is required for regulating myogenesis and apoptosis of satellite cells, which may affect muscle mass accretion and regeneration, and ameliorate muscle sarcopenia.
Keywords: apoptosis; chicken; death-associated protein 1 (DAP1); muscle; satellite cells.
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