Exercise‐Induced Expression, Function, and Localization of Protein Arginine Methyltransferases in Skeletal Muscle
Authors: Van Lieshout Tiffany L , Stouth Derek W , Ljubicic Vladimir 
Published: November 2023

Protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1), PRMT4, and PRMT5 catalyze the methylation of arginine residues on target proteins. In turn, these marked proteins mediate a variety of biological functions. By regulating molecules that are critical to the remodelling of skeletal muscle phenotype, PRMTs may influence skeletal muscle plasticity. Thus, our study tests the hypothesis that the intracellular signals required for muscle adaptation to exercise will be associated with the induction of PRMT expression and activity. C57BL/6 mice were assigned to one of three experimental groups: sedentary (SED), acute bout of exercise (0PE), or acute exercise followed by 180 minutes of recovery (3PE). The mice in the exercise groups performed a single bout of treadmill running at 15 m/min for 90 minutes. The extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and the soleus (SOL) muscles were utilized for RT‐qPCR and Western blot assays, while the gastrocnemius (GAST) muscle was employed to isolate nuclear and cytosolic compartments for protein localization analyses. AMPK activation status was 1.7–2.2 fold higher (p < 0.05) immediately post‐exercise (0PE) in the EDL and SOL muscles, and returned to baseline levels at 3PE. Furthermore, PGC‐1α mRNA expression was elevated by 10–13‐fold (p < 0.05) in both muscles at 0PE and 3PE, which demonstrates that the experimental design utilized in this study was effective at evoking an intracellular milieu indicative of the exercise response. The level of whole muscle PGC‐1α protein content was similar between SED, 0PE, and 3PE. In muscles from the SED group, PRMTs exhibited fiber type‐ and enzyme‐specific gene expression patterns at the mRNA and protein levels. PRMT1 and PRMT5 mRNA expression was similar between muscles, while PRMT4 transcript levels were significantly lower (−40%) in SOL compared to EDL muscles. PRMT1 and PRMT5 protein content was 90% and 140% higher in SOL relative to EDL muscles, respectively (p < 0.05), whereas in contrast PRMT4 displayed similar protein expression between muscle types. PRMT mRNA and protein content were similar between SED, 0PE, and 3PE. Assessment of muscle monomethylarginine (MMA) content was performed in order to examine total PRMT activity, while asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels were assayed as a marker of PRMT1 and PRMT4 activity, and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) content was analyzed to assess PRMT5 function. The presence of all three methylarginine species was significantly higher (40–100%) in the SOL muscles compared to the EDL muscles. As observed with PRMT gene expression, MMA, ADMA, and SDMA were similar between SED, 0PE, and 3PE. Analysis of GAST nuclear and cytosolic fractions demonstrated that PRMT protein expression was significantly higher in the cytosolic compartment versus the myonuclei. Cellular PRMT localization was similar between SED, 0PE, and 3PE. Collectively, this study reveals characteristics of PRMT biology that may important for the exercise‐induced remodelling of skeletal muscle.

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Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Canada Research Chairs