Biochemical relationships between muscle and erythrocyte membrane. Interpretations with respect to Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Whether Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a disease of primary myogenic, secondary neuropathic, vascular or membrane etiology is the subject of some debate. Using the erythrocyte membrane as a biopsy tissue we present biochemical data that support the possibility of a defect in myosin as the genetic defect in DMD. Peptide analysis of hydrolyzed erythrocyte spectrin supports previous data demonstrating an alteration in DMD spectrin. The biochemical and biophysical similarities between spectrin and myosin can be tested with available technology. The hypothesis that a defect in myosin may be responsible for DMD is attractive because it is testable.