Self-Destructing Muscle
Muscle
cells that should grow stronger with use instead self-destruct when missing a
protein called BAG3. Mice missing BAG3 seem fine at birth, but their muscles
quickly degenerate, said Dr. Shinichi Takayama, MCG cell and molecular
biologist. The finding illustrates BAG3’s importance in maintaining mature
skeletal muscle, researchers reported in the September edition of the
American Journal of Pathology. They hope it will lead to prevention of
muscle atrophy that characterizes diseases such as muscular dystrophy and heart
failure.