Induction of a calbindin-D9K-like protein in avian muscle cells by 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3.

1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3 induces the synthesis of a 9 kDa calcium binding protein in chick embryo myoblasts. This work revealed comigration of the myoblast protein with rat calbindin-D9K in SDS-polyacrylamide gels. Western-blot analysis with a specific calbindin-D9K antibody showed the presence of an immunoreactive protein of 9 kDa in chick tissues. In addition, higher levels of myoblast mRNA hybridizing to a specific cDNA probe for rat calbindin-D9K were detected in response to 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3. Northern hybridization analysis showed that the increase was related to a single 550 nucleotide mRNA species. These results provide the first evidence on the presence of calbindin-D9K or a closely related protein in avian tissues and its inducible expression in muscle by 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3.