title: Myomaker mediates fusion of fast myocytes in zebrafish embryos.
abstract: Myomaker (also called Tmem8c), a new membrane activator of myocyte fusion was recently discovered in mice. Using whole mount in situ hybridization on zebrafish embryos at different stages of embryonic development, we show that myomaker is transiently expressed in fast myocytes forming the bulk of zebrafish myotome. Zebrafish embryos injected with morpholino targeted against myomaker were alive after yolk resorption and appeared morphologically normal, but they were unable to swim, even under effect of a tactile stimulation. Confocal observations showed a marked phenotype characterized by the persistence of mononucleated muscle cells in the fast myotome at developmental stages where these cells normally fuse to form multinucleated myotubes. This indicates that myomaker is essential for myocyte fusion in zebrafish. Thus, there is an evolutionary conservation of myomaker expression and function among Teleostomi.
authors: INRA, UR1037 Fish Physiology and Genomics, F-35000 Rennes, France.
authors: Aurélie
authors: A
authors: Landemaine
authors: INRA, UR1037 Fish Physiology and Genomics, F-35000 Rennes, France.
authors: Pierre-Yves
authors: PY
authors: Rescan
authors: INRA, UR1037 Fish Physiology and Genomics, F-35000 Rennes, France. Electronic address: Jean-charles.gabillard@rennes.inra.fr.
authors: Jean-Charles
authors: JC
authors: Gabillard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002459:Cell Fusion; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051379:Mice; D032342:Muscle Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D024510:Muscle Development / Q000235:genetics; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; C000591742:Mymk protein, mouse
keywords: Fast myotome; Fusion; Muscle growth; Myocyte; Zebrafish