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Location, Location, Location: Signals in Muscle Specification
Chih-Ning Chang1,2, Chrissa Kioussi3,4
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA. chanchih@oregonstate.edu.
Journal of Developmental Biology
|May 23, 2018
Summary
Skeletal muscle formation involves complex signaling and gene networks. This review details these processes across various human muscle types, from craniofacial to limb development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Anatomy
Background:
- Muscles are crucial for movement, posture, and support.
- Human skeletal muscles arise from mesoderm-derived cells through intricate signaling pathways.
- Specialized muscle functions and locations result from precise embryonic development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review signaling pathways and gene regulatory networks in skeletal muscle formation.
- To provide an overview of myogenesis across different anatomical regions.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on muscle development.
- Analysis of signaling pathways and transcriptional networks.
- Focus on craniofacial, cardiac, vascular, trunk, and limb muscle development.
Main Results:
- Muscle development is guided by specific spatiotemporal signaling and transcriptional control.
- Cellular differentiation involves dynamic suppression and construction of transcription factor networks.
- Distinct developmental programs shape diverse skeletal muscle types.
Conclusions:
- Understanding muscle formation requires studying gene regulatory networks and signaling.
- Embryonic development orchestrates the specialization of 700 unique human muscles.
- This review synthesizes current knowledge on the molecular basis of myogenesis.
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