Myogenesis in vertebrate myocytes is promoted by activation of the phosphatidyl-inositol 3′-kinase (PI3 kinase) pathway and inhibited by fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling. We show that hyperactivation of the Caenorhabditis elegans FGF receptor, EGL-15, similarly inhibits the differentiation of the hermaphrodite sex muscles. Activation of the PI3 kinase signaling pathway can partially suppress this differentiation defect,mimicking the antagonistic relationship between these two pathways known to influence vertebrate myogenesis. When ectopically expressed in body wall muscle precursor cells, hyperactivated EGL-15 can also interfere with the proper development of the body wall musculature. Hyperactivation of EGL-15 has also revealed additional effects on a number of fundamental processes within the postembryonic muscle lineage, such as cell division polarity. These studies provide important in vivo insights into the contribution of FGF signaling events to myogenesis.
History of our journals
As our publisher, The Company of Biologists, turns 100 years old, read about Development’s journey and highlights from some its first issues, and explore the history of each of our sister journals: Journal of Cell Science, Journal of Experimental Biology, Disease Models & Mechanisms and Biology Open.
Call for papers – Lifelong Development: the Maintenance, Regeneration and Plasticity of Tissues
Development invites you to submit your latest research to our upcoming special issue – Lifelong Development: the Maintenance, Regeneration and Plasticity of Tissues. This issue will be coordinated by Guest Editors Meritxell Huch (Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Germany) and Mansi Srivastava (Harvard University and Museum of Comparative Zoology, USA), working alongside our team of academic Editors. Submit your articles by 15 May 2025.
A case for broadening our view of mechanism in developmental biology
In this Perspective, B. Duygu Özpolat and colleagues survey researchers on their views on what it takes to infer mechanism in developmental biology. They examine what factors shape our idea of what we mean by ‘mechanism’ and suggest a path forward that embraces a broad outlook on the diversity of studies that advance knowledge in our field.
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