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Glycosphingolipid biosynthesis during myogenesis of rat L6 cells in vitro

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Summary

Glycosphingolipid biosynthesis was examined using [3H]-galactose as a precursor as rat L6 myoblasts fused to form multinucleated myotubes. Incorporation of label into neutral glycolipids decreased steadily as the population of myotubes increased, so that final biosynthesis was one-half that observed with myoblasts (p < 0.02). Conversely, ganglioside biosynthesis doubled during myoblast confluency (p < 0.02) and then decreased as myotubes formed. Qualitatively, L6 cells synthesized large amounts of ganglioside GM3 during all myogenic phases. The major neutral glycosphingolipid products were lactosylceramide and paragloboside (nLcOse4Cer). Few changes in TLC autoradiographic patterns were noted during differentiation, with the exception of a slight decrease in ganglioside GM1. The results indicate that the biosynthesis of glycosphingolipids is tightly regulated during myogenesis in vitro and suggest a role for membrane gangliosides in muscle cell differentiation.

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Abbreviations

GM1:

II3NeuAc-GgOse4Cer

GM3:

II3NeuAc-GgOse2Cer

MG4:

IV3NeuAc-nLcOse4Cer

MG6:

VI3NeuAc V4Gal-IV3GlcNAc-nLcOse4Cer

TLC:

Thin-Layer Chromatography

DMEM:

Dulbecco's Modified Eagles' Medium

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, The Medical University of South Carolina, 171 Ashley Avenue, SC 29425, Charleston, USA

    Kenneth C. Leskawa, Robert E. Erwin, Paul E. Buse & Edward L. Hogan

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  1. Kenneth C. Leskawa
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  2. Robert E. Erwin
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  3. Paul E. Buse
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  4. Edward L. Hogan
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Leskawa, K.C., Erwin, R.E., Buse, P.E. et al. Glycosphingolipid biosynthesis during myogenesis of rat L6 cells in vitro . Mol Cell Biochem 83, 47–54 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00223197

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00223197

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