Xenopus Myf-5 marks early muscle cells and can activate muscle genes ectopically in early embryos

Development ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 111 (2) ◽  
pp. 551-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.D. Hopwood ◽  
A. Pluck ◽  
J.B. Gurdon
Keyword(s):  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Muscle Differentiation ◽  
Cardiac Actin ◽  
Early Embryos ◽  
Muscle Genes ◽  
Myogenic Factor ◽  
Somitic Mesoderm

We have cloned a Xenopus cDNA that encodes a homologue of the human myogenic factor, Myf-5. Xenopus Myf-5 (XMyf5) transcripts first accumulate in the prospective somite region of early gastrulae. The pattern of XMyf5 expression is similar to that of the Xenopus MyoD (XMyoD) gene, except that XMyf5 transcripts are largely restricted to posterior somitic mesoderm even before any somites have formed. Transient ectopic expression of XMyf5 activates cardiac actin and XMyoD genes in animal cap cells, but does not cause full myogenesis, even in combination with XMyoD. These results suggest that XMyf5 acts together with XMyoD as one of the set of genes regulating the earliest events of myogenesis, additional factors being required for complete muscle differentiation.

Regionality of egg cytoplasm that promotes muscle differentiation in embryo of the ascidian, Halocynthia roretzi

Development ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 116 (3) ◽  
pp. 521-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Nishida
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Muscle Differentiation ◽  
Posterior Region ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Halocynthia Roretzi ◽  
Early Embryos ◽  
Vegetal Pole ◽  
Restricted Region ◽  
Ooplasmic Segregation ◽  
Cytoplasmic Determinants

Development of ascidians occurs in typical mosaic fashion: blastomeres isolated from early embryos differentiate into tissues according to their normal fates, an indication that cytoplasmic determinants exist in early blastomeres. To provide direct evidence for such cytoplasmic determinants, we have devised methods for fusing blastomeres and cytoplasmic fragments from various regions. (1) Presumptive-epidermis blastomeres were fused to cytoplasmic fragments from various regions of blastomeres of 8-cell embryos of Halocynthia roretzi and development of muscle cells was monitored by an antibody to ascidian myosin. Muscle differentiation was observed only when presumptive-epidermis blastomeres were fused with fragments from the posterior region of B4.1 (posterior-vegetal) blastomeres, the normal progenitor of muscle cells. The results indicate that muscle determinants are present and localized in the cytoplasm that enters muscle-lineage cells. (2) To investigate the presence and localization of muscle determinants in the egg, cytoplasmic fragments from various regions of unfertilized and fertilized eggs were fused with the presumptive- epidermis blastomeres, and formation of muscle cells was assessed by monitoring myosin, actin and acetylcholinesterase expression. These proteins were expressed only when cytoplasm from a restricted region of the eggs, i.e. the vegetal region, after the first phase of ooplasmic segregation, and posterior region, after the second phase of segregation, were fused. Based on these experiments, it is suggested that muscle determinants are segregated by ooplasmic movements after fertilization. They move initially to the vegetal pole of the egg and, prior to first cleavage, to the posterior region from whence future muscle-lineage blastomeres are formed. The inferred movements of muscle determinants correspond to those of the myoplasm, a microscopically visible portion of the egg cytoplasm.

scholarly journals Identification of Autosomal Regions Involved in Drosophila Raf Function

Genetics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 156 (2) ◽  
pp. 763-774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Willis Li ◽  
Elizabeth Noll ◽  
Norbert Perrimon
Keyword(s):  
Limb Development ◽  
Target Gene ◽  
Biological Function ◽  
Genetic Interaction ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Tor Signaling ◽  
Downstream Effector ◽  
Early Embryos ◽  
Genomic Regions

Abstract Raf is an essential downstream effector of activated p21Ras (Ras) in transducing proliferation or differentiation signals. Following binding to Ras, Raf is translocated to the plasma membrane, where it is activated by a yet unidentified “Raf activator.” In an attempt to identify the Raf activator or additional molecules involved in the Raf signaling pathway, we conducted a genetic screen to identify genomic regions that are required for the biological function of Drosophila Raf (Draf). We tested a collection of chromosomal deficiencies representing ∼70% of the autosomal euchromatic genomic regions for their abilities to enhance the lethality associated with a hypomorphic viable allele of Draf, DrafSu2. Of the 148 autosomal deficiencies tested, 23 behaved as dominant enhancers of Draf  Su2, causing lethality in Draf  Su2 hemizygous males. Four of these deficiencies identified genes known to be involved in the Drosophila Ras/Raf (Ras1/Draf) pathway: Ras1, rolled (rl, encoding a MAPK), 14-3-3ϵ, and bowel (bowl). Two additional deficiencies removed the Drosophila Tec and Src homologs, Tec29A and Src64B. We demonstrate that Src64B interacts genetically with Draf and that an activated form of Src64B, when overexpressed in early embryos, causes ectopic expression of the Torso (Tor) receptor tyrosine kinase-target gene tailless. In addition, we show that a mutation in Tec29A partially suppresses a gain-of-function mutation in tor. These results suggest that Tec29A and Src64B are involved in Tor signaling, raising the possibility that they function to activate Draf. Finally, we discovered a genetic interaction between Draf  Su2 and Df(3L)vin5 that revealed a novel role of Draf in limb development. We find that loss of Draf activity causes limb defects, including pattern duplications, consistent with a role for Draf in regulation of engrailed (en) expression in imaginal discs.

Expression of XMyoD protein in early Xenopus laevis embryos

Development ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 114 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.D. Hopwood ◽  
A. Pluck ◽  
J.B. Gurdon ◽  
S.M. Dilworth
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibody ◽  
The Other ◽  
N Terminus ◽  
Tailbud Stage ◽  
Frog Development ◽  
Myogenic Factor ◽  
Myogenic Factors ◽  
Somitic Mesoderm ◽  
Xenopus Laevis Embryos ◽  
Whole Mounts

A monoclonal antibody specific for Xenopus MyoD (XMyoD) has been characterized and used to describe the pattern of expression of this myogenic factor in early frog development. The antibody recognizes an epitope close to the N terminus of the products of both XMyoD genes, but does not bind XMyf5 or XMRF4, the other two myogenic factors that have been described in Xenopus. It reacts in embryo extracts only with XMyoD, which is extensively phosphorylated in the embryo. The distribution of XMyoD protein, seen in sections and whole-mounts, and by immunoblotting, closely follows that of XMyoD mRNA. XMyoD protein accumulates in nuclei of the future somitic mesoderm from the middle of gastrulation. In neurulae and tailbud embryos it is expressed specifically in the myotomal cells of the somites. XMyoD is in the nucleus of apparently every cell in the myotomes. It accumulates first in the anterior somitic mesoderm, and its concentration then declines in anterior somites from the tailbud stage onwards.

FGF21 expression and release in muscle cells: involvement of MyoD and regulation by mitochondria-driven signalling

2014 ◽  
Vol 463 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesc Ribas ◽  
Joan Villarroya ◽  
Elayne Hondares ◽  
Marta Giralt ◽  
Francesc Villarroya
Keyword(s):  
P38 Mapk ◽  
Gene Transcription ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Ros Production ◽  
Myogenic Factor ◽  
Subsequent Activation ◽  
Fgf21 Expression

FGF21 gene transcription in muscle cells is controlled by the myogenic factor MyoD. In muscle cells, FGF21 expression and release is induced by dysfunctional mitochondria signalling via enhanced ROS production and subsequent activation of p38 MAPK.

scholarly journals MyoD inhibits Fstl1 and Utrn expression by inducing transcription of miR-206

2006 ◽  
Vol 175 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam I. Rosenberg ◽  
Sara A. Georges ◽  
Amy Asawachaicharn ◽  
Erwin Analau ◽  
Stephen J. Tapscott
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Muscle Differentiation ◽  
Skeletal Muscle Differentiation ◽  
Distinct Cell ◽  
Muscle Genes ◽  
Suppression Of Gene Expression ◽  
Dystrophin Protein

Terminal differentiation of distinct cell types requires the transcriptional activation of differentiation-specific genes and the suppression of genes associated with the precursor cell. For example, the expression of utrophin (Utrn) is suppressed during skeletal muscle differentiation, and it is replaced at the sarcolemma by the related dystrophin protein. The MyoD transcription factor directly activates the expression of a large number of skeletal muscle genes, but also suppresses the expression of many genes. To characterize a mechanism of MyoD-mediated suppression of gene expression, we investigated two genes that are suppressed in fibroblasts converted to skeletal muscle by MyoD, follistatin-like 1 (Fstl1) and Utrn. MyoD directly activates the expression of a muscle-specific microRNA (miRNA), miR-206, which targets sequences in the Fstl1 and Utrn RNA, and these sequences are sufficient to suppress gene expression in the presence of miR-206. These findings demonstrate that MyoD, in addition to activating muscle-specific genes, induces miRNAs that repress gene expression during skeletal muscle differentiation.

scholarly journals CRP1, a LIM Domain Protein Implicated in Muscle Differentiation, Interacts with α-Actinin

1997 ◽  
Vol 139 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascal Pomiès ◽  
Heather A. Louis ◽  
Mary C. Beckerle
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
Indirect Immunofluorescence ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Muscle Differentiation ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Stress Fibers ◽  
Lim Domain

Members of the cysteine-rich protein (CRP) family are LIM domain proteins that have been implicated in muscle differentiation. One strategy for defining the mechanism by which CRPs potentiate myogenesis is to characterize the repertoire of CRP binding partners. In order to identify proteins that interact with CRP1, a prominent protein in fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells, we subjected an avian smooth muscle extract to affinity chromatography on a CRP1 column. A 100-kD protein bound to the CRP1 column and could be eluted with a high salt buffer; Western immunoblot analysis confirmed that the 100-kD protein is α-actinin. We have shown that the CRP1–α-actinin interaction is direct, specific, and saturable in both solution and solid-phase binding assays. The Kd for the CRP1–α-actinin interaction is 1.8 ± 0.3 μM. The results of the in vitro protein binding studies are supported by double-label indirect immunofluorescence experiments that demonstrate a colocalization of CRP1 and α-actinin along the actin stress fibers of CEF and smooth muscle cells. Moreover, we have shown that α-actinin coimmunoprecipitates with CRP1 from a detergent extract of smooth muscle cells. By in vitro domain mapping studies, we have determined that CRP1 associates with the 27-kD actin–binding domain of α-actinin. In reciprocal mapping studies, we showed that α-actinin interacts with CRP1-LIM1, a deletion fragment that contains the NH2-terminal 107 amino acids (aa) of CRP1. To determine whether the α-actinin binding domain of CRP1 would localize to the actin cytoskeleton in living cells, expression constructs encoding epitope-tagged full-length CRP1, CRP1-LIM1(aa 1-107), or CRP1-LIM2 (aa 108-192) were microinjected into cells. By indirect immunofluorescence, we have determined that full-length CRP1 and CRP1-LIM1 localize along the actin stress fibers whereas CRP1-LIM2 fails to associate with the cytoskeleton. Collectively these data demonstrate that the NH2-terminal part of CRP1 that contains the α-actinin–binding site is sufficient to localize CRP1 to the actin cytoskeleton. The association of CRP1 with α-actinin may be critical for its role in muscle differentiation.

scholarly journals Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein-6 Alters Skeletal Muscle Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doaa Aboalola ◽  
Victor K. M. Han
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Mesenchymal Stem Cells ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Muscle Differentiation ◽  
Insulin Like Growth Factor ◽  
Differentiation Markers ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Factor Binding

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-6 (IGFBP-6), the main regulator of insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF-2), is a component of the stem cell niche in developing muscle cells. However, its role in muscle development has not been clearly defined. In this study, we investigated the role of IGFBP-6 in muscle commitment and differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells derived from the placenta. We showed that placental mesenchymal stem cells (PMSCs) have the ability to differentiate into muscle cells when exposed to a specific culture medium by expressing muscle markers Pax3/7, MyoD, myogenin, and myosin heavy chain in a stage-dependent manner with the ultimate formation of multinucleated fibers and losing pluripotency-associated markers, OCT4 and SOX2. The addition of IGFBP-6 significantly increased pluripotency-associated markers as well as muscle differentiation markers at earlier time points, but the latter decreased with time. On the other hand, silencing IGFBP-6 decreased both pluripotent and differentiation markers at early time points. The levels of these markers increased as IGFBP-6 levels were restored. These findings indicate that IGFBP-6 influences MSC pluripotency and myogenic differentiation, with more prominent effects observed at the beginning of the differentiation process before muscle commitment.

Exogenous retinoic acid rapidly induces anterior ectopic expression of murine Hox-2 genes in vivo

Development ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 116 (2) ◽  
pp. 357-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.A. Conlon ◽  
J. Rossant
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Retinoic Acid ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Teratogenic Effects ◽  
Altered Expression ◽  
Early Embryos ◽  
Specific Manner ◽  
Maternal Administration

Exogenous retinoic acid (RA) has teratogenic effects on vertebrate embryos and alters Hox-C gene expression in vivo and in vitro. We wish to examine whether RA has a role in the normal regulation of Hox-C genes, and whether altered Hox-C gene expression in response to RA leads to abnormal morphology. The expression of 3′ Hox-2 genes (Hox-2.9, Hox-2.8, Hox-2.6 and Hox-2.1) and a 5′ gene (Hox-2.5) were examined by whole-mount in situ hybridization on embryos 4 hours after maternal administration of teratogenic doses of RA on embryonic day 7 to 9. The expression of the 3′ Hox-2 genes was found to be ectopically induced in anterior regions in a stage-specific manner. The Hox-2.9 and Hox-2.8 genes were induced anteriorly in the neurectoderm in response to RA on day 7 but not at later stages. Expression of Hox-2.6 and Hox-2.1 was ectopically induced anteriorly in neurectoderm in response to RA on day 8. Hox-2.1 remained responsive on day 9, whereas Hox-2.6 was no longer responsive at this stage. The expression of the 5′ gene Hox-2.5 was not detectably altered at any of these stages by RA treatments. We also examined the response of other genes whose expression is spatially regulated in early embryos. The expression of En-2 and Wnt-7b was not detectably altered by RA, whereas RAR beta expression was induced anteriorly by RA on day 7 and 8. Krox-20 expression was reduced in a stage- and region-specific manner by RA. The ectopic anterior expression of Hox-2.8 and Hox-2.9 induced by RA on day 7 was persistent to day 8, as was the altered expression of Krox-20. The altered pattern of expression of these genes in response to RA treatment on day 7 may be indicative of a transformation of anterior hindbrain to posterior hindbrain, specifically, a transformation of rhombomeres 1 to 3 towards rhombomere 4 identity with an anterior expansion of rhombomere 5. The ectopic expression of the 3′ Hox-2 genes in response to RA is consistent with a role for these genes in mediating the teratogenic effects of RA; the rapid response of the Hox-C genes to RA is consistent with a role for endogenous RA in refining 3′ Hox-C gene expression boundaries early in development.

Upstream regions of the human cardiac actin gene that modulate its transcription in muscle cells: presence of an evolutionarily conserved repeated motif

1986 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 2125-2136
Author(s):  
A Minty ◽  
L Kedes
Keyword(s):  
Transcriptional Regulation ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Simian Virus 40 ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Actin Gene ◽  
Base Pairs ◽  
Cardiac Actin ◽  
Evolutionarily Conserved ◽  
Sequence Elements ◽  
Repeated Motif

Transfection into cultured cell lines was used to investigate the transcriptional regulation of the human cardiac actin gene. We first demonstrated that in both human heart and human skeletal muscle, cardiac actin mRNAs initiate at the identical site and contain the same first exon, which is separated from the first coding exon by an intron of 700 base pairs. A region of 485 base pairs upstream from the transcription initiation site of the human cardiac actin gene directs high-level transient expression of the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene in differentiated myotubes of the mouse C2C12 muscle cell line, but not in mouse L fibroblast or rat PC-G2 pheochromocytoma cells. Deletion analysis of this region showed that at least two physically separated sequence elements are involved, a distal one starting between -443 and -395 and a proximal one starting between -177 and -118, and suggested that these sequences interact with positively acting transcriptional factors in muscle cells. When these two sequence elements are inserted separately upstream of a heterologous (simian virus 40) promoter, they do not affect transcription but do give a small (four- to fivefold) stimulation when tested together. Overall, these regulatory regions upstream of the cap site of the human cardiac actin gene show remarkably high sequence conservation with the equivalent regions of the mouse and chick genes. Furthermore, there is an evolutionarily conserved repeated motif that may be important in the transcriptional regulation of actin and other contractile protein genes.

The miR-29b/Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 Axis Regulates Transdifferentiation and Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in a Calcified Environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 524-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenhong Jiang ◽  
Zhanman Zhang ◽  
Han Yang ◽  
Qiuning Lin ◽  
Xiao Qin
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Matrix Metalloproteinase ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ◽  
High Calcium

Background: Vascular calcification (VC) is a common pathological lesion that promotes progress and mortality in cardiovascular disease. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) acquiring an osteogenic phenotype facilitate VC occurrence and development. We recently reported that miR-29b-3p directly regulates the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2). Herein, we test whether miR-29b-3p functions in the phenotypic transition and calcification in a calcified environment. Methods and Results: VSMC calcification in vitro was induced with calcification medium containing β-glycerophosphoric acid or high calcium. MiR-29b-3p expression in VSMCs tended to decrease during culturing in calcification medium. MiR-29b-3p overexpression ameliorated VSMC calcification, whereas miR-29b-3p knockdown exacerbated VSMC calcification. Furthermore, ectopic expression of miR-29b-3p inhibited the expression of osteogenic markers and MMP2 (a known target gene of miR-29b-3p). By contrast, miR-29b-3p deficiency facilitated VSMC osteogenesis differentiation and upregulated MMP2 expression. Conclusion: Our research suggests that miR-29b-3p regulates VSMC calcification and osteogenesis differentiation, at least in part, by targeting MMP2. Regulation of miR-29b-3p expression is therefore a potential therapeutic target for VSMC calcification.

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