Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026
14:47
Identification of MyoD Interactome Using Tandem Affinity Purification Coupled to Mass Spectrometry
Published on: May 17, 2016
Long range interactions regulate Igf2 gene transcription during skeletal muscle differentiation
Damir T Alzhanov1, Stephanie F McInerney, Peter Rotwein
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239-3098, USA.
The Journal of Biological Chemistry
|October 13, 2010
Summary
Scientists identified a muscle enhancer in the Igf2-H19 locus critical for activating insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) gene expression during skeletal muscle development and regeneration.
Area of Science:
- Muscle biology
- Epigenetics
- Gene regulation
Background:
- Skeletal muscle growth, maintenance, and repair depend on gene transcription and environmental signals.
- Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) signaling is vital for muscle development and regeneration.
- The molecular mechanisms driving early IGF2 gene expression during muscle differentiation are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize regulatory elements controlling IGF2 gene expression in skeletal muscle.
- To investigate the role of a distal DNA element in the Igf2-H19 locus in muscle differentiation.
Main Methods:
- Chromatin accessibility assays to assess DNA element activity.
- 3C assays to evaluate interactions between the DNA element and the Igf2 gene.
- Reporter gene assays in differentiating myoblasts.
Main Results:
- A distal DNA element in the Igf2-H19 locus functions as a muscle-specific transcriptional enhancer.
- This enhancer region transitions to open chromatin and interacts with the Igf2 gene during muscle differentiation.
- The enhancer significantly stimulates Igf2 promoter activity in differentiating myoblasts.
Conclusions:
- A novel distal enhancer regulating IGF2 gene activation in skeletal muscle has been identified.
- This enhancer plays a crucial role in early muscle differentiation and is conserved across mammalian species.
Related Concept Videos
02:23Master Transcription Regulators
Master transcription regulators are regulatory proteins that are predominantly responsible for regulating the expression of multiple genes. Often these genes work in concert to drive a complex process. Activation of a master transcription regulator can lead to a cascade of transcriptional activation necessary for that outcome. These regulators can directly bind to the regulatory sequences of the various genes involved, or they can indirectly regulate transcription by binding to regulatory...
01:16TGF - β Signaling Pathway
The TGF-β signaling pathway regulates cell growth, differentiation, adhesion, motility, and development. TGF-β ligands that induce TGF-β signaling are synthesized in their latent form. Several proteases or cell surface receptors such as integrins act upon the latent form, releasing the active ligand. There are three types of mammalian TGF-βs: (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3) that bind as homodimers or heterodimers to TGF-β receptors. The TGF-β receptors are of three kinds RI, RII, and RIII. The RI...
01:30General Transcription Factors
Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...
01:13Formation of Muscle Fibers from Myoblasts
De novo myogenesis, or the formation of muscle fibers, begins during the early embryonic stages. The skeletal muscle is formed from somites– blocks of embryonic cell layers. The somites are further divided into dermatomes, myotomes, sclerotomes, and syndetomes. Among these, the myotomes give rise to muscle fibers.
Muscle progenitor cells (MPCs) are formed from the myotomes. MPCs express genes that encode the transcription factors Pax3 and Pax7. Along with Pax 3/7, other transcription factors...
Muscle progenitor cells (MPCs) are formed from the myotomes. MPCs express genes that encode the transcription factors Pax3 and Pax7. Along with Pax 3/7, other transcription factors...
02:36Cells Coordinate Growth and Proliferation
Cell size is a significant factor impacting cellular design, function, and fitness. There exists some internal coordination by which cells double their masses before division, thus, achieving homeostasis. Coordination between cell growth and proliferation depends on the checkpoints in between cell cycle phases. Loss of coordination or failure in the checkpoint mechanism can drive the cell to uncontrolled growth and loss of cellular function. Like dividing cells that coordinate cellular growth,...
02:16Transcription Factors
Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...