title: [MEF2 and myogenesis].
abstract: Recent genetic and biochemical studies have demonstrated that skeletal muscle growth and differentiation in vertebrates are controlled by a core regulatory network which consists of two families of transcriptional factors, the MyoD group basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) muscle regulatory factors (MRFs) and the myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) group of MADS-box regulators. During development, MEF2 interacts genetically and physically with different members of this myogenic network and together they cooperate to positively or negatively regulate transcription of downstream muscle-specific differentiation genes. This paper reviews current understanding of molecular mechanism of these interactions and essential roles that MEF2 plays in skeletal muscle growth and differentiation during development.
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Cellular Developmental Biology Laboratory, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001,China.
authors.forename: Zhen-long
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Da-hai
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Zhi-qian
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Zhang