Chicken NKx2-8, a novel homeobox gene expressed during early heart and foregut development

cNkx2-8 represents a novel member of the NK2-family transcription factors. The gene contains three highly conserved regions, the TN-, NK2-, and homeodomains which are diagnostic for this group of proteins. cNkx2-8 is expressed during chick embryogenesis in ventral foregut endoderm, myocardial mesoderm, epithelium of the branchial arches and the dorsal mesocardium. While cNkx2-8 expression partially overlaps with other NK genes, such as Nkx2-5 and Nkx2-3, its onset and aspects of its expression domains are specific. Thus, structural data and the expression profile suggest that cNkx2-8 constitutes a new homeobox protein which may cooperate with its known relatives in defining an antero-ventral field including the developing heart and pharyngeal endoderm.

The mouse Nkx2-3 homeodomain gene is expressed in gut mesenchyme during pre- and postnatal mouse development

The Nkx homeodomain proteins are members of a growing family of known vertebrate transcription factors that are believed to play a role in cell type specification and/or maintenance of the differentiated phenotype. In this article we report on the identification and developmental expression pattern of the mouse Nkx2-3 gene. The gene is expressed primarily in gut mesoderm, dinstinct regions of the branchial arches, the tongue epithelium, and limited domains in the developing jaws, possibly including tooth anlagen. In contrast to the chicken and Xenopus genes, Nkx2-3 expression in the mouse was not observed in the developing heart or neural tube. Thus, although structurally related to chicken and Xenopus Nkx2-3, the mouse gene exhibits an overlapping but distinct expression pattern that may suggest the existence of additional family members, as yet unidentified, in vertebrate organisms.

A novel E1A domain mediates skeletal-muscle-specific enhancer repression independently of pRB and p300 binding

The adenovirus E1A oncoprotein completely blocks muscle differentiation and specifically inhibits the transactivating function of myogenic basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors. This inhibition is dependent on the conserved region CR1 of E1A, which also constitutes part of the binding sites for the pocket proteins pRB, p107, and p130 and the transcriptional coactivators p300 and CBP. Here we report a detailed mutational analysis of E1A and the identification of a muscle inhibition motif within CR1. This motif encompasses amino acids 38 to 62 and inhibits Myf-5- or MyoD-mediated activation of myogenin and the muscle creatine kinase gene. Overexpression of this E1A region also inhibits the conversion of 10T1/2 fibroblasts to the myogenic lineage. The sequence motif EPDNEE (amino acids 55 to 60) within CR1 appears to be particularly important, because point mutations of this sequence diminish the E1A inhibitory activity. Interactions of E1A with pRB and with p300 do not seem to be necessary for the muscle-specific enhancer repression, because E1A mutants which lack these interactions still inhibit Myf-5- and MyoD-mediated transactivation. Moreover, overexpression of p300 fails to overcome muscle-specific inhibition by wild-type E1A and mutant E1A protein which lacks pRB binding. Since we have no evidence for direct E1A interaction with bHLH proteins, we propose that E1A may target a necessary cofactor of the muscle-specific bHLH transcription complex.

Regionalized expression of Nkx5-1, Nkx5-2, Pax2 and sek genes during mouse inner ear development

Nkx5-1 and Nkx5-2 are two highly related homeobox genes which are expressed during mouse development in the inner ear. Here, we present the detailed expression of both genes within the developing ear and a comparison to the expression of other potential control genes in this organ. Both genes are active between E13.5 and birth in non-sensory epithelium of the semicircular canals, utricle and saccule. Nkx5-1 and Nkx5-2 are also expressed in the cochlea, where the expression is restricted to the stria vascularis. The endolymphatic duct is devoid of any Nkx5 transcripts. Pax2 is expressed in epithelial cells of the ventral part of the membranous labyrinth where it overlaps with the Nkx5 expression domain. sek shows a complementary pattern to Nkx5 in the vestibular epithelium. In the cochlea sek is expressed throughout the mesenchyme and epithelium but not in the stria vascularis. In the vestibulum Pax2 and sek is limited to the ventral part whereas Nkx5 genes are active throughout. These data suggest that Nkx5 genes, Pax2 and sek play different roles in the patterning of inner ear structures.

Chick NKx-2.3 represents a novel family member of vertebrate homologues to the Drosophila homeobox gene tinman: differential expression of cNKx-2.3 and cNKx-2.5 during heart and gut development

NKx homeodomain proteins are members of a growing family of vertebrate transcription factors with strong homology to the NK genes in Drosophila. Here, we describe the cloning of cNKx-2.3 and cNKx-2.5 cDNAs and their expression during chick development. Both genes are expressed in the developing heart with distinct but overlapping spatio-temporal patterns. While cNKx-2.5 is activated in early precardiac mesoderm and continues to be uniformly expressed throughout the mature heart, expression of NKx-2.3 starts later in differentiated myocardial cells with regional differences compared to NKx-2.5. Additionally, both genes are expressed in adjacent domains of the developing mid- and hindgut mesoderm as well as in branchial arches. The highly conserved structure of cNKx-2.5 and its similar expression to mouse and Xenopus NKx-2.5 genes and to the Drosophila gene tinman argue that it constitutes the chick homologue of these genes. Different temporal and spatial activity of cNKx-2.3 in heart and gut as well as in a regionally restricted expression domain in the neural tube suggest that cNKx-2.3 is a member of the NK-2 gene family which may be involved in specifying mesodermally and ectodermally derived cell types in the embryo.

Myf-5(m1)/Myf-6(m1) compound heterozygous mouse mutants down-regulate Myf-5 expression and exert rib defects: evidence for long-range cis effects on Myf-5 transcription

Myf-6 and Myf-5, two members of the family of muscle-specific regulatory genes, are located less than 10 kb apart in the mouse and human genomes. We have shown recently that homozygous mutant mice carrying a pgk-neo-cassette in the first exon of the Myf-6 gene display minor alterations of skeletal musculature but develop a severe rib defect, most likely due to a drastic down-regulation of Myf-5 expression. The mechanism by which the Myf-6 mutation affects the Myf-5 gene is unknown. In order to determine whether Myf-5 transcription is inhibited by the Myf-6 mutation in cis or in trans, we generated compound heterozygous mice carrying inactivated Myf-5 and Myf-6 alleles on different chromosomes. Here, we demonstrate that double-heterozygous mutants exhibit truncated ribs and severe depression of Myf-5 transcription, a phenotype similar to the previously described homozygous Myf-6 mutant mice. These results indicate that the Myf-6 mutation inhibits Myf-5 gene expression by a long-range cis effect.

Targeted inactivation of myogenic factor genes reveals their role during mouse myogenesis: a review

The role of the four myogenic regulating genes Myf-5, myogenin, MyoD, and MRF4 (herculin, Myf-6) during mouse embryogenesis has been investigated by targeted gene inactivation. Null mutations for the MyoD gene generate no skeletal muscle phenotype due to a compensatory activation of the Myf-5 gene. Mice carrying a homozygous Myf-5 mutation exert considerably delayed myotome formation with unexpected consequences. While skeletal myogenesis in these mutant mice resumes normally at the onset of MyoD expression, a skeletal defect of the ribs persists. Apparently, Myf-5 and MyoD individually are not absolutely essential for skeletal muscle development, most likely because they have overlapping or redundant functions. In fact, double mutants lacking both, MyoD and Myf-5, fail to develop skeletal musculature and the muscle forming regions seem to be devoid of myoblasts. Homozygous inactivation of the myogenin gene leads to drastically reduced myofiber formation. These mice accumulate apparently normal numbers of myoblasts which are arrested in their terminal differentiation program. Myf-6 null mutant mice exhibit drastically reduced expression of Myf-5 for reasons presently unknown. The phenotype is very similar to Myf-5 mutants with an additional reduction of deep back muscles and minor alterations in sarcomeric protein isoforms. Based on the phenotypes obtained from these various gene "knock-out" mice, we now begin to understand the regulatory network and the homostatic relationship of genes which are critically involved in myogenesis of vertebrates.

Myf-5 and myoD genes are activated in distinct mesenchymal stem cells and determine different skeletal muscle cell lineages

Targeted inactivation of the myogenic determination genes myf-5 and myoD in mice resulted in moderate (Myf-5) or no muscle phenotypes (MyoD) and double knock-out mutants lacking both genes failed to develop any skeletal muscle. In order to determine the mechanism of this apparent genetic redundancy we investigated the basis of functional overlap between the two genes. Here we demonstrate that Myf-5 and MyoD are not expressed within the same muscle precursor cell, but rather determine different muscle cell lineages arising from independently committed stem cell populations. Selective ablation of Myf-5-expressing muscle precursors from differentiating ES cells does not prevent Myo-D-dependent muscle differentiation. The early muscle progenitor cells which normally express Myf-5 do not develop into later appearing MyoD cells, even when the myf-5 gene has been inactivated. Thus skeletal musculature in vertebrates develops from two separate cell lineages and complementation may occur at the cellular level, but not between different myogenic factor genes within one cell.

Alterations in somite patterning of Myf-5-deficient mice: a possible role for FGF-4 and FGF-6

Mice carrying a targeted mutation in the gene for the myogenic factor Myf-5 fail to form major parts of the ribs, which leads to an unstable thorax and perinatal death. Here, we report that somites of Myf-5-deficient mice lack the expression of FGF-4 and FGF-6 while TGF beta-2 is expressed normally. Early sclerotomal markers, such as Pax-1 reveal no substantial reduction of sclerotome size. At E11.5 the condensing mesenchyme of the rib anlagen is considerably reduced in size in Myf-5 mutant mice. This may be caused by the lack of Myf-5-positive, FGF-expressing cells which normally are in close contact with the lateral sclerotome generating the rib progenitors. The potential role of FGFs and TGF beta on sclerotome formation is demonstrated in micromass cultures of early somites. Combinations of FGF-4 or FGF-6 with TGF beta-2 potentiate chondrogenesis suggesting that these growth factors emanating from early myotomal and dermomyotomal cells may have instructive or permissive effects on differentiation or outgrowth of sclerotomal cells.

Myogenin's functions do not overlap with those of MyoD or Myf-5 during mouse embryogenesis

The four myogenic basic helix-loop-helix proteins, MyoD, myogenin, Myf-5, and MRF4, can each activate skeletal muscle differentiation when introduced into nonmuscle cells. During embryogenesis, each of these genes is expressed in a unique but overlapping pattern in skeletal muscle precursors and their descendants. Gene knockout experiments have shown that MyoD and Myf-5 play seemingly redundant roles in the generation of myoblasts. However, the role of either of these genes during differentiation in vivo has not been determined. In contrast, a myogenin-null mutation blocks differentiation and results in a dramatic decrease in muscle fiber formation, yet the role of myogenin in the generation or maintenance of myoblast populations is not known. Because myogenin possesses the same myogenic activity as MyoD and Myf-5 in vitro and the expression patterns of these three genes overlap in vivo, we sought to determine if myogenin shares certain functions with either MyoD or Myf-5 in vivo. We therefore generated mice with double homozygous null mutations in the genes encoding MyoD and myogenin or Myf-5 and myogenin. These mice showed embryonic and perinatal phenotypes characteristic of the combined defects observed in mice mutant for each gene alone. As shown by histological analysis and expression of muscle-specific genes, the numbers of undifferentiated myoblasts and residual myofibers were comparable between myogenin-mutant homozygotes and the double-mutant homozygotes. Myoblasts isolated from neonates of the combined mutant genotypes underwent myogenesis in tissue culture, indicating that no more than two of the four myogenic factors are required to support muscle differentiation. These results demonstrate that the functions of myogenin do not overlap with those of MyoD or Myf-5 and support the view that myogenin acts in a genetic pathway downstream of MyoD and Myf-5.

Distinct temporal expression of mouse Nkx-5.1 and Nkx-5.2 homeobox genes during brain and ear development

The mouse Nkx-5.1 and Nkx-5.2 genes have been identified by sequence homology to Drosophila NK genes within the homeobox domain. Here, we report the isolation of the Nkx-5.2 cDNA and a detailed comparative analysis of the spatio-temporal expression patterns for Nkx-5.1 and Nkx-5.2 genes. Nkx-5.2 transcripts are first detected in E13.5 embryos where they colocalize with Nkx-5.1 mRNA in the developing central nervous system and the inner ear. However, the onset of Nkx-5.1 transcription begins much earlier in 10 somite stage embryos (E8.5) in the otic placode and the branchial region. Nkx-5.1 expression in the ear persists until birth, whereas in branchial arches it is transient between E8.5 to E11.5. Transcript distribution appears regionalized in the otic vesicle concentrating at the anterior and posterior margin and later at the dorsal side of the otocyst. These domains are distinct from regions expressing Pax-2 and sek, two other early markers for otic development. From E11.5 to birth several Nkx-5.1 expression domains appear in the brain between the ventral diencephalon and the myelencephalon. The same expression domains also exist for Nkx-5.2 beginning at E13.5. The regionally restricted expression pattern of both Nkx-5 genes during mouse development suggests their involvement in cell type specification of neuronal cells.

Inactivation of Myf-6 and Myf-5 genes in mice leads to alterations in skeletal muscle development

Myf-6, alternatively called MRF4 or herculin, is a member of a group of muscle-specific transcription factors which also comprises Myf-5, myogenin and MyoD. All family members show distinct expression patterns during skeletal muscle development and can convert a variety of cell lines to myocytes. We disrupted the Myf-6 gene in mice to investigate its functional role in the network of regulatory factors controlling myogenesis. Homozygous mice carrying the disrupted Myf-6 gene show pronounced down-regulation of Myf-5 transcription for reasons presently unknown. Consequently, these mice represent a double knock-out model for Myf-6 and Myf-5. The mutants resemble most of the Myf-5 phenotype with aberrant and delayed early myotome formation and lack of distal rib structures. In addition, we find a reduction in the size of axial muscles in the back. Apart from changes in the pattern of some contractile protein isoforms, the existing myofibers appear fairly normal. This suggests that Myf-6 has no major role in the maturation of myotubes, as previously proposed. Our results provide evidence that skeletal myogenesis can proceed in the absence of two myogenic factors, Myf-5 and Myf-6, therefore they must exert largely non-redundant functions in vivo.

Initial steps of myogenesis in somites are independent of influence from axial structures

Formation of paraxial muscles in vertebrate embryos depends upon interactions between early somites and the neural tube and notochord. Removal of both axial structures results in a complete loss of epaxial myotomal muscle, whereas hypaxial and limb muscles develop normally. We report that chicken embryos, after surgical removal of the neural tube at the level of the unsegmented paraxial mesoderm, start to develop myotomal cells that express transcripts for the muscle-specific regulators MyoD and myogenin. These cells also make desmin, indicating that the initial steps of axial skeletal muscle formation can occur in the absence of the neural tube. However, a few days following the extirpation, the expression of MyoD and myogenin transcripts gradually disappears, and becomes almost undetectable after 4 days. From these observations we conclude that the neural tube is not required for the generation of the skeletal muscle cell lineage, but may support the survival or maitenance of further differentiation of the myotomal cell compartment. Notochord transplanted medially or laterally to the unsegmented paraxial mesoderm leads to a ventralization of axial structures but does not entirely prevent the early appearance of myoblasts expressing MyoD transcripts. However, the additional notochord inhibits subsequent development and maturation of myotomes. Taken together, our data suggest that neural tube promotes, and notochord inhibits, the process of myogenesis in axial muscles at a developmental step following the initial expression of myogenic bHLH regulators.

MyoD expression marks the onset of skeletal myogenesis in Myf-5 mutant mice

The expression pattern of myogenic regulatory factors and myotome-specific contractile proteins was studied during embryonic development of Myf-5 mutant mice by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. In contrast to somites in wild-type embryos, no expression of myogenin and Myf-6 (MRF4), or any other myotomal markers was detected in mutant animals at E9.0 and E10.0 indicating that Myf-5 plays a crucial role during this developmental period. Significantly, the onset of MyoD expression in rostral somites of E10.5 embryos was unaffected by the Myf-5 mutation suggesting that the activation of the MyoD gene occurs independently of Myf-5 at the correct developmental time. Immediately after the activation of MyoD myogenin transcripts and protein accumulated within the myotome. The first contractile proteins of the sarcomeric apparatus appeared slightly later. By E11.5 the expression of muscle markers were indistinguishable between wild-type and Myf-5 mutant mice. The migration of muscle precursor cells that leave the somites to form limb musculature was monitored in Myf-5-mutant mice by Pax-3 expression. Pax-3-positive cells were equally found in somites and limbs of E10.0 wild-type and mutant mice indicating that myogenic factor expression at the level of somites is not a prerequisite for determination and subsequent migration of limb precursor cells.

Muscle cell differentiation of embryonic stem cells reflects myogenesis in vivo: developmentally regulated expression of myogenic determination genes and functional expression of ionic currents

The mouse blastocyst-derived embryonic stem cell (ES cell) line BLC6 efficiently differentiates into myosin heavy chain-, desmin- and myogenin-positive skeletal muscle cells when cultivated in embryo-like aggregates (embryoid bodies). Here, we show that the muscle-specific determination genes myf5, myogenin, myoD, and myf6 are expressed in these embryoid bodies in a characteristic temporal pattern which precisely reflects the sequence observed during mouse development in vivo. Myf5 is the first gene to be expressed followed by myogenin, myoD, and myf6, in this order. In situ hybridization demonstrates transcripts for myogenin and myoD accumulating in mono- and multinucleated myogenic cells, while myf5 mRNA is already found in mononucleated myoblasts. The myocytes also express functional nicotinic cholinoceptors and exhibit T-type Ca2+ currents and later L-type Ca2+ currents, demonstrating physiological properties of skeletal muscle cells. During myocyte differentiation the density of L-type Ca2+ channels significantly increases while the density of T-type Ca2+ channels decreases. The effect of external signals on myogenic differentiation of BLC6 cells was demonstrated by cocultivation with visceral endodermal END-2 cells and the activin A-secreting WEHI-3 cells. END-2 cells essentially prevent skeletal muscle differentiation, whereas basic fibroblast growth factor, transforming growth factor-beta, and WEHI-3 cells have no or an attenuating effect, respectively. Our results suggest that ES cells recapitulate closely the early steps of muscle development in vivo and may serve as an excellent in vitro system to study this process.

ES-cells carrying two inactivated myf-5 alleles form skeletal muscle cells: activation of an alternative myf-5-independent differentiation pathway

Both alleles of the myogenic regulatory gene myf-5 have been inactivated in mouse embryonic stem cells by different strategies involving either consecutive gene targeting with neomycin and hygromycin replacement vectors or spontaneous loss of heterozygosity in cells targeted with the neomycin replacement vector alone. Both selection schemes provided homozygous myf-5 mutant ES-cells with normal developmental potential in vitro. Embryoid bodies differentiated into skeletal muscle cells as assessed by their typical morphology and skeletal muscle markers. The extent of differentiation in homozygous mutant myf-5 embryonic stem cells was virtually indistinguishable from control cultures, suggesting that myf-5 is not required for the early steps of myogenic development in vitro. While myocyte populations derived from wild-type and heterozygous myf-5 mutant ES-cells contained myoD-positive and myoD-negative cells, no myoD-negative muscle cells were found among myf-5 homozygous mutants. Differentiated myf-5 double-knockout cells also showed a premature expression of myoD. These results indicate a compensatory role of myoD and myf-5 during early myocyte development and suggest a possible down-regulation of myoD by myf-5 during early myogenesis.

The myogenin gene is activated during myocyte differentiation by pre-existing, not newly synthesized transcription factor MEF-2

The myogenin gene, a member of the gene family encoding muscle-specific basic-helix-loop-helix transcription factors, is activated in myoblasts at the onset of differentiation and can be induced in fibroblasts by forced expression of MyoD or its relatives. Here, we report that a small proximal promoter region of the Myf-4 gene, the human myogenin homolog, suffices to direct muscle-specific expression and up-regulation by MyoD. The minimal promoter contains an E-box and a MEF-2 consensus element. Paradoxically, we find that the MEF-2 binding site but not the E-box is necessary for cell type-specific expression and activation by MyoD in tissue culture cells. This suggests an activating mechanism which is independent of direct protein interactions at the E-box. MEF-2 binding complexes were detected in myoblasts and myotubes, as well as in fibroblasts with no strict correlation to myogenin expression. Moreover, transcription of myogenin could be induced in the presence of potent inhibitors of protein synthesis. From these results we conclude that myogenin expression is not mediated primarily through de novo synthesis of MEF-2 but rather involves a post-translational mode of activation.

Pax-3 is required for the development of limb muscles: a possible role for the migration of dermomyotomal muscle progenitor cells

Limb muscles in vertebrates originate from dermomyotomal cells, which during early development migrate from the ventrolateral region of somites into the limb buds. These progenitor cells do not express any muscle-specific marker genes or myogenic transcription factors until they reach their destination in the limbs. Here, we demonstrate by in situ hybridization that myogenic cells in somites and a population of presumably migratory muscle precursor cells in somatopleural tissue as well as myoblasts in the developing limbs express Pax-3. Significantly, in homozygous splotch mutant mice, which synthesize altered Pax-3 mRNA but make no normal protein, no cells positive for Pax-3 transcripts can be detected in the region of migrating limb muscle precursors or in the limb itself. In contrast, myotomal precursor cells and axial skeletal muscles contain Pax-3 transcripts also in the mutant. Interestingly, these animals fail to develop limb musculature as demonstrated by the lack of hybridization with various probes for myogenic transcription factors (Myf-5, myogenin, MyoD) but make apparently normal axial muscles. These observations suggest that Pax-3 is necessary for the formation of limb muscles, affecting either the generation of myogenic precursors in the somitic dermomyotome or the migration of these cells into the limb field.

A novel NK-related mouse homeobox gene: expression in central and peripheral nervous structures during embryonic development

We have identified three novel mouse homeobox genes that are related to the Drosophila NK gene family. Two genes without direct homologues in Drosophila were designated Nkx-5.1 and Nkx-5.2; the third gene Nkx-1.1 constitutes the mouse homologue to NK1.Nkx-5.1 and Nkx-5.2 are closely linked on mouse chromosome 7, whereas Nkx-1.1 is located on a different chromosome. Here, we report the spatiotemporal expression pattern of Nkx-5.1 during prenatal mouse development. Nkx-5.1 gene activity begins at Embryonic Day 10.5 in the developing ear, the neural tube, and dorsal root ganglia. It continues to be active throughout prenatal life in discrete regions of the brain with an anterior border in the ventral diencephalon at the optic chiasma and expression domains in mesencephalon, metencephalon, and myelencephalon. At midgestation, Nkx-5.1 is also expressed in mesenchyme of the head and branchial arches, and in some cranial ganglia, as well as in derivatives of neural crest, such as the truncus sympathicus and myenteric ganglia. The time pattern of Nkx-5.1 expression and its confinement to primarily postmitotic cells of the central and peripheral nervous system suggest that Nkx-5.1 may play a role in the specification of neuronal cell types.

Early skeletal muscle development proceeds normally in parthenogenetic mouse embryos

In mouse chimeras with parthenogenetic cell contribution, the skeletal musculature appears to be largely devoid of parthenogenetically derived cells. To analyze the appearance and early distribution of myotomal cells in parthenotes, we determined the expression of the muscle-specific transcription factors myogenin, MYF-5, and MYF-6 by in situ hybridization in somites of Day 10 and 11 embryos. Here, we report that these myogenic regulatory proteins are expressed in parthenogenetic animals together with desmin, one of the early muscle-specific structural proteins. We also show that parthenogenetic cells contribute equally to dermatome, sclerotome, and myotome in Day 10 and 11 chimeras. These results suggest that early myotomal cells expressing the myogenic control proteins develop and allocate normally in parthenogenetic embryos and in parthenogenetic<==>normal chimeras. The underrepresentation in older chimeras may therefore be due to selective elimination. These data also argue against imprinting of the myogenic factor genes myogenin, Myf-5, and Myf-6.

MyoD or Myf-5 is required for the formation of skeletal muscle

Mice carrying null mutations in the myogenic regulatory factors Myf-5 or MyoD have apparently normal skeletal muscle. To address whether these two factors functionally substitute for one another in myogenesis, mice carrying mutant Myf-5 and MyoD genes were interbred. While mice lacking both MyoD and Myf-5 were born alive, they were immobile and died soon after birth. Northern blot and S1 nuclease analyses indicated that Myf-5(-1-);MyoD(-1-) mice expressed no detectable skeletal muscle-specific mRNAs. Histological examination of these mice revealed a complete absence of skeletal muscle. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated an absence of desmin-expressing myoblast-like cells. These observations suggest that either Myf-5 or MyoD is required for the determination of skeletal myoblasts, their propagation, or both during embryonic development and indicate that these factors play, at least in part, functionally redundant roles in myogenesis.

TPA-induced differentiation of human rhabdomyosarcoma cells: expression of the myogenic regulatory factors

RD cells (a cell line derived from a human rhabdomyosarcoma) undergo a very limited myogenic differentiation despite the fact that they express several myogenic determination genes. Since we have previously shown (Aguanno et al., Cancer Res. 50, 3377, 1990) that the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) induces myogenic differentiation in these cells, in this paper we investigate the mechanism by which TPA interferes with the expression and/or function of the myogenic determination genes. Northern blot analysis revealed that RD cells express the myf3 (the human analog of MyoD) and myf4 (the human analog of myogenin) transcripts, but not myf5 or myf6 transcripts. The myf3 and the myf4 gene products are correctly translated and accumulated in the nuclei as shown by immunofluorescence analysis. The tumor promoter (TPA) does not modify the pattern of expression of the myf factors while it induces the accumulation of muscle-specific transcripts, such as alpha-actin and fast myosin light chain 1, and their corresponding proteins. On the other hand, within 1 day of treatment, TPA inhibits the expression of the Id gene, which is a negative regulator of MyoD activity. However, while the TPA-induced inhibition of Id message accumulation correlates with differentiation, cell confluence also causes a reduction in Id message accumulation, without inducing differentiation. Under our experimental conditions, overexpression of any of the myf cDNAs in RD cells does induce spontaneous differentiation but enhances the effect of TPA treatment independently from the level of the expressed message. These data suggest that differentiation of RD cells is likely to depend upon the activity of complexes containing the various members of the MyoD family, which can be regulated by proteins affecting MyoD dimerization such as Id, but also by other mechanisms induced by TPA, such as phosphorylation.

cAMP-dependent protein kinase represses myogenic differentiation and the activity of the muscle-specific helix-loop-helix transcription factors Myf-5 and MyoD

Myf-5 and MyoD are members of a family of muscle-specific basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins that are fundamental for myogenic cell differentiation and transcriptional activation of muscle-specific genes. Here we report that elevated levels of the intracellular signaling molecule cAMP and overexpression of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) inhibit myogenic differentiation. PKA represses the transcriptional activation of muscle-specific genes by the myogenic regulators Myf-5 and MyoD. The repression is directed at the basic HLH domain and is mediated through the E-box DNA consensus motif to which these proteins bind. However, phosphorylation of Myf-5 and MyoD by PKA in vitro does not affect their ability to bind to DNA. PKA specifically inhibits the activity of myogenic bHLH proteins, but not of other HLH proteins, such as the ubiquitously expressed E2A gene products E12 and E47 (E2-5). Our results demonstrate that PKA mediates the cAMP-induced inhibition of muscle cell differentiation by repressing the activity of Myf-5 and MyoD. The inhibition by PKA occurs post-translationally and presumably affects the transactivation process at a step following DNA-binding. The regulation of Myf-5 and MyoD function by a cAMP-dependent pathway may partly explain how external signals generated by serum and certain peptide growth factors can be transduced to the nucleus and inhibit dominant-acting factors that are responsible for myoblast differentiation.