title: A single-cell analysis of myogenic dedifferentiation induced by small molecules.
abstract: An important direction in chemical biology is the derivation of compounds that affect cellular differentiation or its reversal. The fragmentation of multinucleate myofibers into viable mononucleates (called cellularization) occurs during limb regeneration in urodele amphibians, and the isolation of myoseverin, a trisubstituted purine that could apparently activate this pathway of myogenic dedifferentiation in mammalian cells, generated considerable interest. We have explored the mechanism and outcome of cellularization at a single-cell level, and we report findings that significantly extend the previous work with myoseverin. Using a panel of compounds, including a triazine compound with structural similarity and comparable activity to myoseverin, we have identified microtubule disruption as critical for activation of the response. Time-lapse microscopy has enabled us to analyze the fate of identified mononucleate progeny, and directly assess the extent of dedifferentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duckmanton
authors.forename: Anoop
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Young-Tae
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Jeremy P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Brockes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology*; D015739:Nocodazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011687:Purines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014227:Triazines / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011687:Purines; D014227:Triazines; C407365:myoseverin; D015739:Nocodazole