Rabbit masseter expresses the cardiac α myosin heavy chain gene

Abstract

The presence of myosin alpha heavy chain in the rabbit masseter has been previously suggested at the protein level [(1991) Basic App. Myol. 1, 23-34; (1991) Histochem. J. 23, 160-170]. To confirm this finding, we cloned most of the mRNA corresponding to the myosin heavy chain S2 subfragment. PCR analysis and subsequent nucleotide sequence determination of the amplified cDNA demonstrates the presence of a myosin alpha heavy chain mRNA in rabbit masticatory muscles.