The translation of chick skeletal muscle poly(A)-containing mRNA in primary heart muscle cells in culture

Chick skeletal muscle mRNA (40 μg/0.8 ml) in phosphate-buffered saline was added to 60 mm petri dishes containing a monolayer of primary heart muscle cells. After 30 minutes absorption the cultures were supplemented with complete medium and the incubation continued in a humidified CO 2-incubator. Sucrose density gradient analysis of the absorbed RNA showed no degradation. This skeletal muscle mRNA was translated in primary heart muscle cells in culture into functional proteins as indicated by the linear increase in the accumulation of acetylcholine receptors as well as a similar increase in creatine kinase activity. In addition, the synthesis of the three unique light chains of skeletal muscle myosin (SLC 1, SLC 2, SLC 3) in these primary heart muscle cells was also demonstrable.