Mitsugumin 56 (MG56), also known as the membrane-bound O-acyl-transferase family member hedgehog acyltransferase-like, was identified as a new sarcoplasmic reticulum component in striated muscle. Mg56-knockout mice grew normally for a week after birth, but shortly thereafter exhibited a suckling defect and died under starvation conditions. In the knockout skeletal muscle, regular contractile features were largely preserved, but sarcoplasmic reticulum elements swelled and further developed enormous vacuoles. In parallel, the unfolded protein response was severely activated in the knockout muscle, and presumably disrupted muscle development leading to the suckling failure. Therefore, MG56 seems essential for postnatal skeletal muscle maturation.
