Myosin heavy chain messenger RNA from myogenic cell cultures.

The appearance of messenger RNA for myosin heavy chains in chick-embryo myogenic cell cultures was investigated. Total polyribosomes were isolated from cultures at various times of development and were purified in sucrose step gradients. These polysomes were either extracted with phenol or were treated with puromycin. The ribonucleoprotein particles and ribosomal subunits released by puromycin were fractionated on sucrose gradients. RNA from polysomes or from puromycin-dissociated subunits was fractionated on oligo(dT)-cellulose columns, and the bound and unbound RNA was assayed for activity of myosin heavy chain messenger RNA in a rabbit reticulocyte cell-free system. RNA stimulating myosin heavy-chain synthesis was found predominantly in the unbound fractions of the oligo(dT)-cellulose columns. After puromycin treatment of polysomes, the myosin heavy chain messenger RNA, which sediments at 18-26 S, was associated with a ribonucleoprotein particle sedimenting between 30 and 40 S. Myosin heavy chain messenger RNA was obtained from cultures containing well-developed myotubes and from cultures undergoing myogenic cell fusion. This messenger RNA was not detectable in early, unfused cultures, or in later cultures in which myogenic cell fusion had been prevented by treatment with ethyleneglycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid. These experiments demonstrate that messenger RNA for myosin heavy chains becomes associated with ribosomes only after myogenic cell fusion has begun.