Twist reverses muscle cell differentiation through transcriptional down-regulation of myogenin

Biosci Rep. 2013 Dec 3;33(6):e00083. doi: 10.1042/BSR20130068.

Abstract

Some higher vertebrates can display unique muscle regenerative abilities through dedifferentiation. Research evidence suggests that induced dedifferentiation can be achieved in mammalian cells. TWIST is a bHLH (basic helix-loop-helix) transcription factor that is expressed during embryonic development and plays critical roles in diverse developmental systems including myogenesis. Several experiments demonstrated its role in inhibition of muscle cell differentiation. We have previously shown that overexpression of TWIST can reverse muscle cell differentiation in the presence of growth factors. Here we show that TWIST reverses muscle cell differentiation through binding and down-regulation of myogenin. Moreover, it can reverse cellular morphology in the absence of growth factors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Differentiation*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Shape
  • Culture Media, Serum-Free
  • Down-Regulation
  • Gene Silencing*
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Muscle Development
  • Myoblasts / physiology*
  • Myogenin / genetics*
  • Myogenin / metabolism
  • Nuclear Proteins / physiology*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Protein Binding
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Twist-Related Protein 1 / physiology*

Substances

  • Culture Media, Serum-Free
  • Myog protein, mouse
  • Myogenin
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Twist-Related Protein 1
  • Twist1 protein, mouse