ISSN:
0021-9541
Keywords:
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
The fusion in vitro of embryonic myoblasts to form multinucleated myotubes requires the addition of serum to a basal nutrient medium. The serum requirement for fusion can be satisfied by insulin with somatotropin potentiating its effect. Myotubes formed under these conditions fail to differentiate to cross-striated, spontaneously contractile muscle fibers. This arrest of development is reversible if serum is restored to the medium.Development of the enzyme glycogen synthetase was studied as an additional indicator of muscle differentiation. In cultures developing in the presence of serum, this enzyme was demonstrated by autoradiography to be highly concentrated in myotubes as compared to mononuclear cells. The activity of the enzyme remains low in (1) cultures formed in response to insulin and somatotropin in the absence of serum, as well as (2) in cultures formed in unsupplemented basal medium which are virtually lacking in myotubes. The addition of serum to (1) restores the development of this enzyme. Serum which has been extensively digested with the proteolytic preparation, pronase, and subjected to boiling temperature, when combined with insulin and somatotropin is also capable of promoting the development of glycogen synthetase to a specific activity which exceeds the control. The serum factor is not lost on exhaustive dialysis, nor can enzyme promoting activity be liberated by heat denaturation of serum proteins.
Additional Material:
2 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jcp.1040720105
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