Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Formation of Muscle Fibers from Myoblasts01:13

Formation of Muscle Fibers from Myoblasts

6.2K
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...
6.2K
Cytoskeletal Accessory Proteins01:13

Cytoskeletal Accessory Proteins

4.2K
The cytoskeleton is an essential cell component that plays several structural and functional roles. However, the filaments that make up the cytoskeleton cannot function independently and depend on the accessory or ancillary proteins to effectively carry out their function. Accessory proteins associate with cytoskeletal filaments and their monomers, aiding filament formation and function. They also help in the cross-communication among cytoskeletal filaments. Cytoskeletal accessory proteins are...
4.2K
Regulation of Nuclear Protein Sorting01:45

Regulation of Nuclear Protein Sorting

3.4K
Nuclear protein sorting regulates nucleus composition and gene expression, crucial for determining the fate of a eukaryotic cell. Hence, the entry and exit of molecules across the nuclear envelope is a tightly controlled process. Nuclear protein sorting can be inhibited by one of the following ways: 1) masking cargo signal sequences, 2) modifying the nuclear receptor's affinity for cargo, 3) controlling the nuclear pore size, 4) retaining the cargo during its transit to the cytosol or the...
3.4K
The Sarcomere01:08

The Sarcomere

17.5K
A sarcomere is a microscopic segment repeating in a myofibril. The sarcomere fundamentally consists of two main myofilaments: thick filaments called myosin and thin filaments called actin. These filaments interact by sliding past each other in response to stimulus. In addition to myosin and actin, several other proteins, such as tropomyosin, troponin, titin, nebulin, myomesin, α-actinin, and dystrophin, play crucial roles in regulating, structuring, and functioning of the sarcomere.
Each...
17.5K
The Neuromuscular Junction01:19

The Neuromuscular Junction

20.5K
The nervous system consists of complex motor neuron circuits, including upper motor neurons originating from the cerebral cortex and lower motor neurons starting in the spinal cord, coordinating both voluntary and involuntary movements. Among these, somatic motor neurons activate skeletal muscles and are classified into alpha, beta, and gamma types. Alpha neurons are vital for voluntary movement coordination, while gamma neurons adjust muscle spindle sensitivity, and the function of beta...
20.5K
Neuromuscular Junction And Blockade01:29

Neuromuscular Junction And Blockade

5.3K
The site of chemical communication between a motor neuron and a muscle fiber is called the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). The end of the motor neuron at the NMJ divides into a cluster of synaptic end bulbs. The cytoplasm of these bulbs consists of synaptic vesicles enclosing acetylcholine molecules, the principal neurotransmitter released at the NMJ. The region opposite the synaptic bulb that ends in the muscle fiber is called the motor end plate, which has acetylcholine receptors. Within the...
5.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Potential of a bacterial immunomodulatory enzyme to restore health in a Th1 cytokine cocktail induced skin psoriasis-like model.

European journal of cell biology·2026
Same author

Tracking Gene Expression of Single Mitochondria in Live Neurons Using Nanotweezers.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026
Same author

Remembrance of things past: Towards a life-course biology of aging.

PLoS biology·2026
Same author

Corrigendum to "An in-situ forming controlled release soft hydrogel-based C5a peptidase drug delivery system to treat psoriasis" [Int. J. Pharm. 671 (2025) 125244].

International journal of pharmaceutics·2026
Same author

Potential of a bacterial immunomodulatory enzyme to restore health in a Th17 cytokine cocktail-induced skin psoriasis model.

Tissue & cell·2026
Same author

Evolutionary genetics of ageing.

Nature reviews. Genetics·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 2, 2026

The Neuromuscular Junction: Measuring Synapse Size, Fragmentation and Changes in Synaptic Protein Density Using Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy
12:18

The Neuromuscular Junction: Measuring Synapse Size, Fragmentation and Changes in Synaptic Protein Density Using Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy

Published on: December 26, 2014

22.8K

Myostatin-like proteins regulate synaptic function and neuronal morphology.

Hrvoje Augustin1,2, Kieran McGourty3, Joern R Steinert4

  • 1Institute of Healthy Ageing, and GEE, University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.

Development (Cambridge, England)
|May 24, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Myostatin and GDF11, known muscle growth inhibitors, also regulate synapse strength and neuronal growth. These TGFβ superfamily members impact both muscle mass and nervous system function.

Keywords:
DrosophilaGDF11Muscle sizeMyoglianinMyostatinSynapse

More Related Videos

Genetic Manipulation of Cerebellar Granule Neurons In Vitro and In Vivo to Study Neuronal Morphology and Migration
09:07

Genetic Manipulation of Cerebellar Granule Neurons In Vitro and In Vivo to Study Neuronal Morphology and Migration

Published on: March 17, 2014

14.3K
Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Molecular Basis of Pain Perception and Neuropathic Pain
05:28

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Molecular Basis of Pain Perception and Neuropathic Pain

Published on: August 9, 2024

1.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 2, 2026

The Neuromuscular Junction: Measuring Synapse Size, Fragmentation and Changes in Synaptic Protein Density Using Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy
12:18

The Neuromuscular Junction: Measuring Synapse Size, Fragmentation and Changes in Synaptic Protein Density Using Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy

Published on: December 26, 2014

22.8K
Genetic Manipulation of Cerebellar Granule Neurons In Vitro and In Vivo to Study Neuronal Morphology and Migration
09:07

Genetic Manipulation of Cerebellar Granule Neurons In Vitro and In Vivo to Study Neuronal Morphology and Migration

Published on: March 17, 2014

14.3K
Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Molecular Basis of Pain Perception and Neuropathic Pain
05:28

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Molecular Basis of Pain Perception and Neuropathic Pain

Published on: August 9, 2024

1.8K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Growth factors of the TGFβ superfamily, including myostatin (GDF8) and GDF11, are critical regulators of skeletal muscle mass.
  • Expression patterns suggest myostatin and its receptors have broader biological roles beyond muscle, potentially in the brain and peripheral nerves.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of Myoglianin (MYO), the Drosophila homolog of myostatin and GDF11, in regulating neuromuscular synapse function and neuronal growth.
  • To determine if mammalian myostatin and GDF11 also affect synapse formation in neuronal cultures.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Drosophila melanogaster models to study the in vivo effects of MYO on neuromuscular synapses.
  • Employed isolated rat cortical neuron cultures to assess the impact of myostatin and GDF11 on synaptogenesis.
  • Investigated Smad2-dependent signaling pathways.

Main Results:

  • Myoglianin (MYO) was found to regulate body weight, muscle size, and inhibit neuromuscular synapse strength and composition in a Smad2-dependent manner.
  • Myostatin and GDF11 demonstrated an inhibitory effect on synapse formation in rat cortical neuron cultures.
  • MYO was shown to inhibit synaptic transmission in the Drosophila escape response neural circuit.

Conclusions:

  • Proteins in the myostatin family (myostatin, GDF11) are not only regulators of muscle mass but also significant inhibitors of synapse function and neuronal growth.
  • These findings reveal a novel role for anti-myogenic proteins in regulating nervous system function.