Myogenic regulatory factors (MRF) of the MyoD family regulate the skeletal muscle differentiation program. Non-muscle cells transfected with exogenous MRF either are converted to the myogenic lineage or fail to express the muscle phenotype, depending on the cell type analysed. We report here that MRF-induced myogenic conversion of NIH3T3 cells results in an incomplete reprogramming of these cells. Transfected cells withdrew from the cell cycle and underwent biochemical differentiation but, surprisingly, terminally differentiated myocytes absolutely failed to fuse into multinucleated myotubes. Analysis of muscle regulatory and structural gene expression failed to provide an explanation for the fusion defectiveness. However, myogenic derivatives of NIH3T3 cells were shown to be unable to accumulate the transcripts encoding muscle-specific isoforms of the integrin subunit beta1D and the transcription factor MEF2D1b2, that depend on muscle-specific alternative splicing. Our results suggest that the fusion into myotubes is under a distinct genetic control that might depend, at least partially, on differential splicing.
Myogenic conversion of NIH3T3 cells by exogenous MyoD family members: dissociation of terminal differentiation from myotube formation
S. Russo, D. Tomatis, G. Collo, G. Tarone, F. Tato; Myogenic conversion of NIH3T3 cells by exogenous MyoD family members: dissociation of terminal differentiation from myotube formation. J Cell Sci 15 March 1998; 111 (6): 691–700. doi: https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.111.6.691
Download citation file:
Advertisement
Cited by
JCS Journal Meeting 2023: Imaging Cell Dynamics

Our 2023 Journal Meeting on ‘Imaging Cell Dynamics’ will be held from 14-17 May 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal. We have a limited number of spaces left so sign up now! Registration deadline: 31 March.
Call for papers: Cell and Tissue Polarity
-PolarityCFP.png?versionId=4559)
We are welcoming submissions for our next special issue, which will focus on ‘Cell and tissue polarity’ and will be guest edited by David Bryant. Submission deadline: 15 July.
Editorial: Publishing where it matters
Editor-in-Chief Michael Way outlines Journal of Cell Science’s plans for the upcoming year and introduces Seema Grewal as our new Executive Editor.
Cell Scientists to Watch

As a community-focused journal, Journal of Cell Science is keen to support the next generation of cell biologists. Check out Cell Scientists to Watch, our interview series featuring talented researchers who have recently set up their own labs.
New Community Manager for FocalPlane

FocalPlane is your microscopy community site, encompassing all fields in the biological sciences where they meet microscopy. Visit the site to read, post, comment and connect, and feel free to reach out to our new Community Manager, Helen Zenner.