CONCENTRATION OF PARVALBUMIN AND ALPHA-B-CRYSTALLIN IN LINGUAL AND MASTICATORY MUSCLES

The concentration of parvalbumin per mg total soluble protein was high in the temporal, digastric, masseteric and medial pterygoid muscles a nd was comparable to that in the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscl e. Its concentration in the lingual muscle was low and comparable to t hat in the soleus (SOL) muscle. The concentration of alphaB-crystallin was, as compared to the SOL muscle, much lower in the lingual, masset eric, digastric, temporal and medial pterygoid muscles, and was at a l evel similar to that in the EDL muscle. Integration of the present res ults with our previous observations on other muscle proteins suggests that 1) the masticatory muscles can be positioned, along the fast-slow axis, very close to the EDL muscle, 2) the concentration of various p roteins highly expressed in fast muscles is a good measure to discrimi nate fast from slow muscles, and 3) the concentration of alphaB-crysta llin was extremely high in the SOL muscle, but its relevance to contra ctile property remains to be elucidated.