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Human single masseter muscle fibers contain unique combinations of myosin and myosin binding protein C isoforms

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Abstract

Striated craniofacial and limb muscles differ in their embryological origin, regulatory program during myogenesis, and innervation. In an attempt to explore the effects of these differences on the striated muscle phenotype in humans, the expression of myosin and myosin-associated thick filament proteins were studied at the single fiber level both in the human jaw-closing masseter muscle and in two limb muscles (biceps brachii and quadriceps femoris muscles). In the masseter, unique combinations of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) and myosin binding protein C (MyBP-C) isoforms were observed at the single fiber level. Compared to the limb muscles, the MyHC isoform expression was more complex in the masseter while the opposite was observed for MyBP-C. In limb muscles, a coordinated expression of three MyHC and three MyBP-C isoforms were observed, i.e., single fibers contained one or two MyHC isoforms, and up to three MyBP-C isoforms. Also, the relative content of the different MyBP-C isoforms correlated with the MyHC isoform expression. In the masseter, on the other hand, up to five different MyHC isoforms could be observed in the same fiber, but only one MyBP-C isoform was identified irrespective MyHC isoform expression. This MyBP-C isoform had a migration rate similar to the slow MyBP-C isoform in limb muscle fibers. In conclusion, a unique myofibrillar protein isoform expression was observed in the human masseter muscle fibers, suggesting significant differences in structural and functional properties between muscle fibers from human masseter and limb muscles.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Noll Physiological Research Center and Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802-6900, USA

    F. Yu & L. Larsson

  2. Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Academic Hospital, Uppsala University, Sweden

    F. Yu & L. Larsson

  3. Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Section of Anatomy, Umeå University, and Department of Musculoskeletal Research, National Institute for Working Life, SE-90187, Umeå, Sweden

    P. Stål & L.-E. Thornell

Authors
  1. F. Yu
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  2. P. Stål
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  3. L.-E. Thornell
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  4. L. Larsson
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Yu, F., Stål, P., Thornell, LE. et al. Human single masseter muscle fibers contain unique combinations of myosin and myosin binding protein C isoforms. J Muscle Res Cell Motil 23, 317–326 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022061706126

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022061706126

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