Molecular characterization of three muscle alpha actin genes in mud loach (Misgurnus mizolepis; Cypriniformes)

Abstract

Background: Teleosts represent unique features in the regulation of muscle development and growth, with a great deal of myogenic plasticity. Muscle actins are major components to compose muscle fibers, and they play essential roles in cellular mobility and other related functions. In order to understand isoform-dependent roles of muscle actins in the mud loach (Misgurnus mizolepis), this study was aimed to characterize gene structure and expression pattern of the three muscle actin isoforms (α-skeletal, α-cardiac, and α-smooth muscle actins) isolated from this benthic fish species. Results: Mud loach α-actin isoforms (ACTA1, ACTC1, and ACTA2) were fairly conserved in their primary structures and shared a high-sequence identity one another. At genomic level also, all the three isoforms exhibited the same exon-intron organization pattern characterized by eight translated exons. However, in mRNA expression patterns, these three actin isoforms were found to display an apparent isoform-dependency in tissue distribution (i.e., ACTA1 in the skeletal muscles, ACTC1 in the heart, and ACTA2 in the intestines) and developmental regulation (i.e., increased expression of ACTA1 and ACTC1 with the progress of myogenesis, and the significant elevation of ACTA2 during organ development in early larvae).

Whole Transcriptome Analysis of Differentially Expressed Genes in Cultured Nile Tilapia (O. niloticus) Subjected to Chronic Stress Reveals Signaling Pathways Associated with Depressed Growth

“…The findings of this study have also demonstrated that chronic stress down-regulates actin, α cardiac, the primary protein of the thin filament in cardiac sarcomeres, actin α I skeletal muscle a (acta1a) an ATP binding protein in skeletal muscle and cAMP responsive element modulator a (crema). Acta1a activates numerous other “myogenic genes”, which are crucial for the development of muscles [ 70 ]. Crema participates in a number of intracellular activities, including neurogenesis, synaptic potentiation, differentiation, proliferation, and neuroplasticity [ 71 , 72 ].…”

Development of EST-Molecular Markers from RNA Sequencing for Genetic Management and Identification of Growth Traits in Potato Grouper (Epinephelus tukula)

“…In human studies, ACTC1 mutations have been noted in heart diseases, including dilated cardiomyopathy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy [ 125 , 126 ]. Lee et al observed that ACTC1 is upregulated in mud loaches during the growth stage [ 127 ], and Avey et al suggested that ACTC expression in D. rerio alters the cardiac function and reduces aerobic efficiency [ 128 ]. Further research is warranted to determine whether ACTC mutation and expression during growth influence the growth performance of potato grouper.…”

Sex-Biased lncRNA Signature in Fetal Growth Restriction (FGR)

“…ACTC1 encodes Actin Alpha Cardiac Muscle 1 and is classified as highly conserved proteins involved in various types of cell motility [ 71 ]. A lack of ACTC1 may induce apoptosis, which plays a crucial role in embryological development and may also lead to disruption of organ differentiation, specifically defects associated with heart diseases [ 72 , 73 ].…”