Mef2 and the skeletal muscle differentiation program

TY - JOUR

T1 - Mef2 and the skeletal muscle differentiation program

AU - Taylor, Michael V.

AU - Hughes, Simon M.

PY - 2017/11/22

Y1 - 2017/11/22

N2 - Mef2 is a conserved and significant transcription factor in the control of muscle gene expression. In cell culture Mef2 synergises with MyoD-family members in the activation of gene expression and in the conversion of fibroblasts into myoblasts. Amongst its in vivo roles, Mef2 is required for both Drosophila muscle development and mammalian muscle regeneration. Mef2 has functions in other cell-types too, but this review focuses on skeletal muscle and surveys key findings on Mef2 from its discovery, shortly after that of MyoD, up to the present day. In particular, in vivo functions, underpinning mechanisms and areas of uncertainty are highlighted. We describe how Mef2 sits at a nexus in the gene expression network that controls the muscle differentiation program, and how Mef2 activity must be regulated in time and space to orchestrate specific outputs within the different aspects of muscle development. A theme that emerges is that there is much to be learnt about the different Mef2 proteins (from different paralogous genes, spliced transcripts and species) and how the activity of these proteins is controlled.

AB - Mef2 is a conserved and significant transcription factor in the control of muscle gene expression. In cell culture Mef2 synergises with MyoD-family members in the activation of gene expression and in the conversion of fibroblasts into myoblasts. Amongst its in vivo roles, Mef2 is required for both Drosophila muscle development and mammalian muscle regeneration. Mef2 has functions in other cell-types too, but this review focuses on skeletal muscle and surveys key findings on Mef2 from its discovery, shortly after that of MyoD, up to the present day. In particular, in vivo functions, underpinning mechanisms and areas of uncertainty are highlighted. We describe how Mef2 sits at a nexus in the gene expression network that controls the muscle differentiation program, and how Mef2 activity must be regulated in time and space to orchestrate specific outputs within the different aspects of muscle development. A theme that emerges is that there is much to be learnt about the different Mef2 proteins (from different paralogous genes, spliced transcripts and species) and how the activity of these proteins is controlled.

KW - Skeletal muscle development

KW - Mef2

KW - Gene expression network

KW - Differentiation

KW - Regeneration

KW - Alternative splicing

KW - Protein interactions

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85034630574&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.11.020

DO - 10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.11.020

M3 - Article

SN - 1084-9521

VL - 72

JO - Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology

JF - Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology

ER -