Polyamine depletion inhibits the differentiation of L6 myoblast cells

Bradley G. Erwin, Daina Z. Ewton, James R. Florini, Anthony E. Pegg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

Exposure to α-difluoromethylornithine, an enzyme-activated irreversible inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase, inhibited the insulin induced differentiation of L6 myoblast cells. Differentiation was assessed by measuring creatine kinase activity and by determining the percentage of nuclei in myotubes. The levels of putrescine and spermidine increased in stimulated cultures prior to their differentiation and these increases were blocked by α-difluoromethylornithine. Provision of exogenous putrescine was able to reverse the inhibitory effect of the drug. The anti-differentiative effect is observed only if α-difluoromethylornithine is added within twenty-four hours of insulin stimulation. In the experimental protocol used, α-difluoromethylornithine was added as the cultures approached confluence and had no effect on their ultimate DNA content. Therefore, the effect of α-difluoromethylornithine on myoblast differentiation is not secondary to an effect on cellular proliferation. These results indicate that polyamines may be involved in the mediation of muscle cell differentiation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)944-949
Number of pages6
JournalBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Volume114
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 12 1983

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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