DISTRIBUTION OF DYSTROPHIN ISOFORMS AND DYSTROPHIN-ASSOCIATED PROTEINS 43DAG (A3A) AND 50DAG (A2) IN VARIOUS MONKEY TISSUES

To determine the distributions of two known dystrophin isoforms derive d from the 3' part of the dystrophin gene and of the dystrophin-associ ated proteins [50DAG (A2) and 43DAG (A3a)] by immunoblot analysis, we examined various monkey tissues [skeletal (quadriceps), cardiac (left ventricle), and smooth (aorta and uterus) muscles, lung, liver, centra l nervous system (cerebrum, cerebellum, and spinal cord), and peripher al nerve (sciatic nerve)]. With the antibody against the C-terminal do main of dystrophin, we found three bands other than the 400-kDa band c orresponding to dystrophin or utrophin. These are a 130-kDa band detec ted in central nervous system, a 110-kDa band in peripheral nerve and spinal cord, and a 70-kDa band in all the tissues examined except skel etal muscle and peripheral nerve. The 130-kDa band may be a novel prot ein not yet reported, while the last two bands may correspond to Dp116 and Dp71, respectively [Lederfein et al. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci . USA 89, 5346-5350 and Byers et al. (1993) Nature Genet. 4, 77-81]. D ystrophin-associated protein, 43DAG, was detected in all the tissues e xamined, but 50DAG was detected only in skeletal and cardiac muscles. Furthermore, a unique 70-kDa band reacting with anti-50DAG antiserum w as found in all the tissues other than skeletal muscle.