# MARKER PROTEINS FOR MUSCLE CELL TRANSPLANTATION STUDIES

> **NIH NIH R01** · SUNY DOWNSTATE MEDICAL CENTER · 1987 · $114,158

## Abstract

Despite intensive research, the molecular defects underlying the muscular
dystrophies of human and animal tissues have yet to be identified.  It is
conceivable, however, that a successful therapy might be developed using a
method which circumvents the need for this knowledge.  Ongoing work from
several laboratories indicates that, on introduction of normal muscle cells
into diseased muscle, the normal nuclei are incorporated into the host
fibers and their phenotype expressed.  However, identification of the
hypothesized hybrid cells and correlation with improved fiber structure has
not been possible because of the lack of independent markers for normal and
dystrophic nuclei.

We have identified three nondiseased-related, allelic variants of myosin
light chain-1 (types I, II and III) in the fast white muscle fibers of
domestic chickens suitable for use as marker proteins.  It is proposed:

(i) to develop strains of noromal chickens homozygous for the type I and
III LC-1 variants (birds of all dystrophic strains are fortuitously
homozygous for the type II form).

(ii) to develop monoclonal antibodies specific for each of the variants.

(iii) to determine, by immunomicroscopy in culture, using two kinds of
normal myocytes differing in LC1 types, whether LC1 is limited in diffusion
in the myofiber.  A positive finding will permit location of normal and
dystrophic nuclei within a hybrid fiber in subsequent transplantation
experiments.

(iv) to determine, using immunomicroscopy and normal and dystrophic cell
types differing in LC1 variants, the survival advantages of normal and
dystrophic cells mixed in culture.

(v) to determine in vivo, using immunomicroscopy, the extent of hybrid
fiber formation following introduction of normal cells expressing one LC1
type into dystrophic tissue expressing a second, and to correlate this with
any improvement in fiber histology and ultrastructure.

(vi) if LC1 diffusion in the fiber proves to be limited, permitting
identification of normal and dystrophic nuclei in hybrid fibers (see (iii)
above), to compare the fiber histology and ultrastructure in regions of
hybrid fibers maintained by normal and dystrophic nuclei respectively.

(vii) using the LC1 variants and the normal and dystrophic myosin heavy
chains (HC) distinguished by us, to use similar procedures to determine
whether LC1 and HC occupy the myofiber to similar extents.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3156787
- **Project number:** 5R01AR034307-02
- **Recipient organization:** SUNY DOWNSTATE MEDICAL CENTER
- **SAM.gov UEI:** NJ14V2NZYM68
- **Principal Investigator:** JULIE I. RUSHBROOK
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $114,158
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1986-07-01 → 1989-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3156787

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3156787, MARKER PROTEINS FOR MUSCLE CELL TRANSPLANTATION STUDIES (5R01AR034307-02). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3156787. Licensed CC0.

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