Summary
Myogenic regulatory factors (MRF) of the MyoD family regulate the skeletal muscle differentiation program. Non-muscle cells transfected with exogenous MRF either are converted to the myogenic lineage or fail to express the muscle phenotype, depending on the cell type analysed. We report here that MRF-induced myogenic conversion of NIH3T3 cells results in an incomplete reprogramming of these cells. Transfected cells withdrew from the cell cycle and underwent biochemical differentiation but, surprisingly, terminally differentiated myocytes absolutely failed to fuse into multinucleated myotubes. Analysis of muscle regulatory and structural gene expression failed to provide an explanation for the fusion defectiveness. However, myogenic derivatives of NIH3T3 cells were shown to be unable to accumulate the transcripts encoding muscle-specific isoforms of the integrin subunit beta1D and the transcription factor MEF2D1b2, that depend on muscle-specific alternative splicing. Our results suggest that the fusion into myotubes is under a distinct genetic control that might depend, at least partially, on differential splicing.
- © 1998 by Company of Biologists
Article navigation
Related articles
Cited by...
More in this TOC section
Similar articles
Other journals from The Company of Biologists
Introducing FocalPlane’s new Community Manager, Esperanza Agullo-Pascual
We are pleased to welcome Esperanza to the Journal of Cell Science team. The new Community Manager for FocalPlane, Esperanza is joining us from the Microscopy Core at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Find out more about Esperanza in her introductory post over on FocalPlane.
New funding scheme supports sustainable events
As part of our Sustainable Conferencing Initiative, we are pleased to announce funding for organisers that seek to reduce the environmental footprint of their event. The next deadline to apply for a Scientific Meeting grant is 26 March 2021.
Read & Publish participation continues to grow
"Alongside pre-printing for early documentation of work, such mechanisms are particularly helpful for early-career researchers like me.”
Dr Chris MacDonald (University of York) shares his experience of publishing Open Access as part of our growing Read & Publish initiative. We now have over 150 institutions in 15 countries and four library consortia taking part – find out more and view our full list of participating institutions.
Cell scientist to watch: Romain Levayer
In an interview, Romain Levayer talks about starting his own lab, his love for preprints and his experience of balancing parenting with his research goals.
Live lactating mammary tissue
In a stunning video, Stewart et al. demonstrate warping of the alveolar unit due to basal cell-generated force as part of their recent work investigating roles for mechanically activated ion channels in lactation and involution.
Visit our YouTube channel to watch more videos from JCS, our sister journals and the Company.
JCS and COVID-19
For more information on measures Journal of Cell Science is taking to support the community during the COVID-19 pandemic, please see here.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hestiate to contact the Editorial Office.