Association of a newly identified lncRNA LNC_000280 with the formation of acetylcholine receptor clusters in vitro

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) can disintegrate acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clusters in the postsynaptic membrane. In our previous research, lncRNAs that were differentially expressed in the whole transcriptome sequencing of denervated muscle atrophy after PNI were screened. By utilizing Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, a novel lncRNA LNC_000280 was predicted to be associated with neuromuscular junction (NMJ). The myotubes were used to assess the connection between LNC_000280 and AChR cluster formation in vitro by overexpression and knockdown of LNC_000280 in the C2C12 cell line. Our findings demonstrated that the overexpression of LNC_000280 repressed the gene expression and protein level of AChR subunits in myotubes and further reduced the area of AChR aggregates on the cell membrane. In contrast, the knockdown of LNC_000280 brought about opposite results. In addition, the transcriptional level of Sorbs2 changed inversely with the quantity change of LNC_000280. In conclusion, LNC_000280 may associate with the formation of AChR clusters.