Mice lacking Homer 1 exhibit a skeletal myopathy characterized by abnormal transient receptor potential channel activity

Mol Cell Biol. 2008 Apr;28(8):2637-47. doi: 10.1128/MCB.01601-07. Epub 2008 Feb 11.

Abstract

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are nonselective cation channels, several of which are expressed in striated muscle. Because the scaffolding protein Homer 1 has been implicated in TRP channel regulation, we hypothesized that Homer proteins play a significant role in skeletal muscle function. Mice lacking Homer 1 exhibited a myopathy characterized by decreased muscle fiber cross-sectional area and decreased skeletal muscle force generation. Homer 1 knockout myotubes displayed increased basal current density and spontaneous cation influx. This spontaneous cation influx in Homer 1 knockout myotubes was blocked by reexpression of Homer 1b, but not Homer 1a, and by gene silencing of TRPC1. Moreover, diminished Homer 1 expression in mouse models of Duchenne's muscular dystrophy suggests that loss of Homer 1 scaffolding of TRP channels may contribute to the increased stretch-activated channel activity observed in mdx myofibers. These findings provide direct evidence that Homer 1 functions as an important scaffold for TRP channels and regulates mechanotransduction in skeletal muscle.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium Signaling
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Deletion*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Homer Scaffolding Proteins
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Muscle Contraction
  • Muscular Dystrophies / genetics
  • Muscular Dystrophies / pathology
  • Muscular Dystrophies / physiopathology*
  • Protein Binding
  • TRPC Cation Channels / genetics
  • TRPC Cation Channels / metabolism*

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Homer Scaffolding Proteins
  • TRPC Cation Channels