The origin of embryonic and fetal myoblasts: a role of Pax3 and Pax7.
Skeletal muscle is a heterogeneous tissue composed of individual muscle fibers, diversified in size, shape, and contractile protein content, to fulfill the different functional needs of the vertebrate body. This heterogeneity derives from and depends at least in part on distinct classes of myogenic progenitors; i.e., embryonic and fetal myoblasts and satellite cells whose origin and lineage relationship have been elusive so far. In this issue of Genes & Development, Hutcheson and colleagues (pp. 997-1013) provide a first answer to this question.
Messina
Graziella
G
Division of Regenerative Medicine, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Cossu
Giulio
G
D000818:Animals; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005333:Fetus; D051379:Mice; D024510:Muscle Development / Q000502:physiology*; D032446:Myoblasts / Q000166:cytology*; D000072041:PAX3 Transcription Factor; D051763:PAX7 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism
D000072041:PAX3 Transcription Factor; D051763:PAX7 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; C497322:Pax7 protein, mouse; D051176:beta Catenin; C068686:Pax3 protein, mouse