Search

Sphingosine, a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C, was found to block membrane fusion of chick embryonic myoblasts in culture. This effect was dose-dependent and could be reversed upon removal of the drug. Treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, which is a powerful activator of protein kinase C and capable of preventing myoblast fusion, further potentiated the inhibitory effect of sphingosine. Thus, the sphingosine-mediated inhibition of myoblast fusion appears to be independent of protein kinase C. Sphingosine also decreased the phosphorylation state of the 100-kDa protein when given to the cell extracts, and this inhibition was competitive with calmodulin. Thus, sphingosine seems to act as a calmodulin antagonist. These results suggest that the sphingosine-mediated inhibition of myoblast fusion may be associated with the inhibitory effect of the drug against the calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation of the 100-kDa protein.

Purothionin from wheat endosperm is a cysteine-rich, basic polypeptide of about 5000 Da, which modifies membrane permeability of cultured mammalian cells. This peptide was found to block fusion of chick embryonic muscle cells in culture but allows proliferation and alignment. A purothionin concentration of 6 micrograms/ml (1.2 microM) was necessary for the complete prevention of myotube formation. Under similar conditions, incorporation of [35S]methionine occurred normally but the synthesis of muscle-specific proteins including creatine kinase and acetylcholine receptor was strongly inhibited. In addition, purothionin blocked the uptake of 86Rb+, immediately after its addition to the cultured myoblasts. No such effects were found with the purothionin chemically modified with acetic or succinic anhydride. Thus, the basic residues in purothionin appear to be associated with the inhibition of myogenic differentiation. These results suggest that purothionin exerts its regulatory effect on the transition from proliferative to differentiative myoblasts by interfering with membrane permeability or intercellular contact and recognition, which are necessary for the initiation of muscle differentiation.