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Sarcoglycan Subcomplex Expression in Normal Human Smooth Muscle

Giuseppe Anastasi, Giuseppina Cutroneo, Antonina Sidoti, Carmen Rinaldi, Daniele Bruschetta, Giuseppina Rizzo, Rosalia D'Angelo, Guido Tarone, Aldo Amato and Angelo Favaloro

Department of Biomorphology and Biotechnologies, University of Messina, Messina, Italy (GA,GC,AS,CR,DB,GR,RD,AA,AF), and Departments of Genetics, Biology and Biochemistry, University of Torino, Torino, Italy (GT)

Correspondence to: Angelo Favaloro, Dipartimento di Biomorfologia e Biotecnologie, Policlinico Universitario, Torre Biologica, Università di Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 1 IT-98125, Messina, Italy. E-mail: angelo.favaloro{at}unime.it

The sarcoglycan complex (SGC) is a multimember transmembrane complex interacting with other members of the dystrophin–glycoprotein complex (DGC) to provide a mechanosignaling connection from the cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix. The SGC consists of four proteins (, ß, , and ). A fifth sarcoglycan subunit, -sarcoglycan, shows a wider tissue distribution. Recently, a novel sarcoglycan, the -sarcoglycan, has been identified. All reports about the structure of SGC showed a common assumption of a tetrameric arrangement of sarcoglycans. Addressing this issue, our immunofluorescence and molecular results showed, for the first time, that all sarcoglycans are always detectable in all observed samples. Therefore, one intriguing possibility is the existence of a pentameric or hexameric complex considering -sarcoglycan of SGC, which could present a higher or lower expression of a single sarcoglycan in conformity with muscle type—skeletal, cardiac, or smooth—or also in conformity with the origin of smooth muscle. (J Histochem Cytochem 55:831–843, 2007)

Key Words: sarcoglycan • smooth muscle • immunohistochemistry • RT-PCR • gastroenteric tract • vessels

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