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Mutations in the genes encoding dystrophin or dystrophin-associated proteins are responsible for Duchenne muscular dystrophy or various forms of limb-girdle muscular dystrophies respectively. We have recently cloned the gene for the murine 87 kDa postsynaptic protein dystrobrevin, a dystrophin-associated protein. Anti-dystrobrevin antibodies stain the sarcolemma in normal skeletal muscle indicating that dystrobrevin co-localises with dystrophin and the dystrophin-associated protein complex. By contrast, dystrobrevin membrane staining is severely reduced in muscles of Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients, consistent with dystrobrevin being a dystrophin-associated protein. Interestingly, dystrobrevin staining at the sarcolemma is dramatically reduced in patients with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy arising from the loss of one or all of the sarcoglycan components. Normal dystrobrevin staining is observed in patients with other forms of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy where dystrophin and the rest of the dystrophin-associated protein complex are normally expressed and in other neuromuscular disorders. Our results show that dystrobrevin-deficiency is a generic feature of dystrophies linked to dystrophin and the dystrophin-associated proteins. This is the first indication that a cytoplasmic component of the dystrophin-associated protein complex may be involved in the pathogenesis of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy.

Original publication

DOI

10.1093/hmg/6.7.1185

Type

Journal article

Journal

Hum Mol Genet

Publication Date

07/1997

Volume

6

Pages

1185 - 1191

Keywords

Cytoskeletal Proteins, Dystroglycans, Dystrophin, Dystrophin-Associated Proteins, Humans, Membrane Glycoproteins, Muscle, Skeletal, Muscular Dystrophies, Neuropeptides, Sarcoglycans, Sarcolemma