Myogenic regulatory factors: dissecting their role and regulation during vertebrate embryogenesis.
The elucidation of the myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) has resulted in a surge of research activity that promises to bridge molecular and embryological approaches to muscle research. In this review, we consider the arguments that would place MRFs in a key determination role for the skeletal muscle lineage in the vertebrate embryo. Amphibian, avian, and murine systems are compared and recent developments in the molecular embryology of myogenesis are reviewed. A model is proposed to account for the apparent discrepancies in conclusions drawn from studies using cultured cells that indicate a role for the MRFs in determination, and studies of MRF and muscle gene expression in vivo that indicate a role in differentiation but not in lineage determination.
Sassoon
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DA
Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Massachusetts 02118.
D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005775:Gastrula / Q000502:physiology; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009132:Muscles / Q000196:embryology*; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000196:embryology*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins