Coordinate accumulation of troponin subunits in chicken breast muscle.

The accumulation of troponin subunits in developing chicken breast muscle was determined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and an image analyzing system. Many troponin T isoforms, including those hidden behind creatine kinase, were detected on the two-dimensional pattern by the addition of 6 M urea in the second dimension. These troponin T isoforms were classified into four types by developmental order, isoelectric point, and molecular weight: leg-muscle type (L), neonatal breast-muscle type (BN), young chicken breast-muscle type (BC), and adult breast-muscle type (BA). The L-, BN-, and BC-type troponin Ts were transiently expressed at specific developmental stages. Quantitative analysis of two-dimensional patterns of troponin subunits including troponin I and troponin C showed moderate coordination in accumulation among the three subunits throughout postnatal development, when the total amount of all isoforms of troponin T was taken into account.