Microheterogeneity of desmin in the electric organ and dorsal muscle of the electric eel Electrophorus electricus

Abstract

Abstract Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of purified desmin from the electric organ of Electrophorus electricus exhibited five isoforms as opposed to four from the dorsal muscle of the eel. Differences in isoforms may indicate different degrees of desmin phosphorylation in these tissues. The similarities detected in the two less acidic isodesmin from the electric organ and from the dorsal muscle of Electrophorus electricus suggest that the electric organ has conserved some characteristics seen in the dorsal muscle, favoring previous suggestions that considered the electric tissue as a differentiated form of striated muscle.