Cavin4b/Murcb Is Required for Skeletal Muscle Development and Function in Zebrafish

PLoS Genet. 2016 Jun 13;12(6):e1006099. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006099. eCollection 2016 Jun.

Abstract

Skeletal muscles provide metazoans with the ability to feed, reproduce and avoid predators. In humans, a heterogeneous group of genetic diseases, termed muscular dystrophies (MD), lead to skeletal muscle dysfunction. Mutations in the gene encoding Caveolin-3, a principal component of the membrane micro-domains known as caveolae, cause defects in muscle maintenance and function; however it remains unclear how caveolae dysfunction underlies MD pathology. The Cavin family of caveolar proteins can form membrane remodeling oligomers and thus may also impact skeletal muscle function. Changes in the distribution and function of Cavin4/Murc, which is predominantly expressed in striated muscles, have been reported to alter caveolae structure through interaction with Caveolin-3. Here, we report the generation and phenotypic analysis of murcb mutant zebrafish, which display impaired swimming capacity, skeletal muscle fibrosis and T-tubule abnormalities during development. To understand the mechanistic importance of Murc loss of function, we assessed Caveolin-1 and 3 localization and found it to be abnormal. We further identified an in vivo function for Murc in Erk signaling. These data link Murc with developmental defects in T-tubule formation and progressive muscle dysfunction, thereby providing a new candidate for the etiology of muscular dystrophy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Caveolae / metabolism
  • Caveolin 1 / metabolism
  • Caveolin 3 / metabolism
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism
  • Ion Channels / genetics
  • Muscle Development / genetics*
  • Muscle Proteins / genetics*
  • Muscle Proteins / metabolism
  • Muscle, Skeletal / embryology*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology*
  • Muscular Dystrophies / genetics
  • Zebrafish / embryology*
  • Zebrafish / genetics
  • Zebrafish / metabolism
  • Zebrafish Proteins / genetics*
  • Zebrafish Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Caveolin 1
  • Caveolin 3
  • Ion Channels
  • Muscle Proteins
  • Zebrafish Proteins
  • cavin4b protein, zebrafish
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases

Grants and funding

The research was made possible by a grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine [TG2-01153] to MPH, as well as by funds from the National Institutes of Health (RO1KL54737), Packard Foundation and Max Planck Society to DYRS. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.