[Histone methyltransferases and regenerative myogenesis: A focus on SETDB1]

Adult skeletal muscle is composed of thousands of fibers (also called myofibers) that contract thus allowing voluntary movements. Following an injury, muscle stem cells, surrounding the myofibers, activate, proliferate, and differentiate to form de novo myofibers. These steps constitute a process called adult (or regenerative) myogenesis. This process is possible thanks to various transcription factors sequentially expressed and regulated by epigenetic factors that modulate the chromatin and therefore lead to the regulation of gene expression. Gene expression changes consequently affect the fate of muscle stem cells. Histone Lysine Methyltransferases methylate some histones involved in the repression of gene expression. We describe here the role of SETDB1 during adult myogenesis, notably its role during muscle stem cell differentiation.