Chapter 12 The molecular and cellular biology of skeletal muscle myogenesis. Practical applications

Abstract

Muscle fibers form during embryogenesis by the fusion of mononucleate myoblasts to form multinucleate syncytia. Myoblasts are determined somitic mesoderm cells that migrate to sites of myogenesis throughout the body in a biphasic fashion. Migration to the premuscle masses and the location of myoblasts on the extracellular matrix is controlled by a family of extracellular matrix receptors, the integrins. Fusion of growth-arrested myoblasts is controlled by two complementary adhesion systems-the Ca2+ dependent and Ca2+ independent systems. Progression of myoblasts through the various compartments of myogenesis is controlled by a family of muscle-specific proteins, the bHLH proteins. Following ..