Expression of the myogenic regulatory factor Mrf4 precedes or is contemporaneous with that of Myf5 in the somitic bud.
The development of skeletal muscle in vertebrate embryos is controlled by a transcriptional cascade involving the four myogenic regulatory factors. In the somites of the mouse embryo the order of expression is thought to be Myf5, Myogenin, Mrf4 and MyoD. We have re-examined the expression pattern of Mrf4 and show that in the hypaxial domain of thoracic somites (the somitic bud) Mrf4 expression precedes or is contemporaneous with that of Myf5, suggesting that this transcription factor plays a hitherto unsuspected role in myogenesis.
Division of Eukaryotic Molecular Genetics, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK.
Dennis
D
Summerbell
Chandrika
C
Halai
Peter W J
PW
Rigby
D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D024510:Muscle Development / Q000235:genetics*; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D051787:Myogenic Regulatory Factor 5; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D018008:Myogenin; D019170:Somites / Q000378:metabolism*; D015534:Trans-Activators
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; C497418:Myf5 protein, mouse; C503801:Myog protein, mouse; D051787:Myogenic Regulatory Factor 5; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors; D018008:Myogenin; D015534:Trans-Activators; C063403:myogenic factor 6