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Dp71 can restore the dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex in muscle but fails to prevent dystrophy

Abstract

Two lines of transgenic mdx mice have been generated that express a 71 kD non-muscle isoform of dystrophin (Dp71) in skeletal muscle. This isoform contains the cysteine-rich and Oterminal domains of dystrophin, but lacks the N-terminal actin-binding and central spectrin-like repeat domains. Dp71 was associated with the sarcolemma membrane, where it restored normal expression and localization of all members of the dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex. However, the skeletal muscle pathology of the transgenic mdx mice remained severe. These results indicate that the dystrophin C terminus cannot function independently to prevent dystrophic symptoms and confirms predictions based on patient data that both the N and C-terminal domains are required for normal dystrophin function.

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Cox, G., Sunada, Y., Campbell, K. et al. Dp71 can restore the dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex in muscle but fails to prevent dystrophy. Nat Genet 8, 333–339 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/ng1294-333

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