Isolation and characterization of a novel short chain alcohol dehydrogenase-like isozyme by differential display of distinct smooth muscle cell phenotypes

Gastrointestinal smooth muscle development proceeds by the linear differentiation of distinct smooth muscle cell phenotypes. In an effort to identify specific gene products associated with distinct smooth muscle cell phenotypes, we performed differential display on smooth muscle myoblasts versus immature smooth muscle myocytes. This analysis identified a novel short-chain alcohol dehydrogenase-like isozyme which was preferentially expressed in smooth muscle myoblasts over immature and mature smooth muscle myocytes. We postulate that this novel short-chain alcohol dehydrogenase-like isozyme may play a role in potentiating the dedifferentiation of smooth muscle cells in vitro.