Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Millay DP
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3739301 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Millay Douglas P DP O'Rourke Jason R JR Sutherland Lillian B LB Bezprozvannaya Svetlana S Shelton John M JM Bassel-Duby Rhonda R Olson Eric N EN
Nature 20130701 7458
Fusion of myoblasts is essential for the formation of multi-nucleated muscle fibres. However, the identity of muscle-specific proteins that directly govern this fusion process in mammals has remained elusive. Here we identify a muscle-specific membrane protein, named myomaker, that controls myoblast fusion. Myomaker is expressed on the cell surface of myoblasts during fusion and is downregulated thereafter. Overexpression of myomaker in myoblasts markedly enhances fusion, and genetic disruption ...[more]