Cytoskeletal components of the vertebrate neuromuscular junction: vinculin, alpha-actinin, and filamin.

Abstract

Immunocytochemical methods were used to investigate the cytoskeletal constituents of the vertebrate neuromuscular junction. Specific, affinity-purified antibodies to 3 cytoskeletal proteins, vinculin, .alpha.-actinin and filamin, bound to neuromuscular junctions in sections of normal rat, mouse, chick and Xenopus muscles. All 3 antibodies bound to the synaptic regions of denervated rat muscle fibers, indicating that the proteins recognized by these antibodies are associated with postsynaptic structures. The 3 proteins are present at the neuromuscular junction in muscle fibers of embryonic and neonatal animals and may play an important role in its differentiation.