MyoD and myogenesis in C. elegans.
One of the goals in developmental biology is the identification of key regulatory genes that govern the transition of embryonic cells from a pluripotent potential to a specific, committed cell fate. During vertebrate skeletal myogenesis, this transition is regulated by the MyoD family of genes. C. elegans has muscle analogous to vertebrate skeletal muscle and has a gene (hlh-1) related to the MyoD family. The molecular and genetic characterization of hlh-1 shows that it is very similar to the vertebrate MyoD family in many respects, including its expression pattern and DNA binding activity. The hlh-1 product is required for proper myogenesis, but it is not required for myogenic commitment during embryogenesis in the nematode. The role of this MyoD-related gene in nematode myogenesis is discussed and compared to those of the vertebrate MyoD family.
Krause
M
M
Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000196:embryology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D009132:Muscles / Q000196:embryology*; D017570:MyoD Protein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D017570:MyoD Protein