Phorbol ester inhibits myoblast fusion and activates beta-adrenergic receptor coupled adenylate cyclase.

Primary cultures of myoblasts, derived from embryonic chick pectoral muscle, were treated with phorbol ester (TPA) for 8-96 h. TPA treatment blocked the fusion of myoblasts along with the expression of the MM form of creatine kinase. Interestingly, TPA treatment markedly increased the activity of beta-adrenergic receptor coupled adenylate cyclase (AC) activity. The study suggests that TPA treatment augments the functional interaction between a coupling Ns protein and catalytic unit of AC. The likely significance of these results is briefly presented.