Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 14, 2025

Identification of MyoD Interactome Using Tandem Affinity Purification Coupled to Mass Spectrometry
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Identification of MyoD Interactome Using Tandem Affinity Purification Coupled to Mass Spectrometry

Published on: May 17, 2016

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ROS-Drp1-mitophagy feedback loop regulates myogenic differentiation via actin cytoskeleton remodeling-mediated

Aiwen Jiang1, Luyao Wang1, Xinyu Liu1

  • 1Key Laboratory for Animal Genetics, Breeding, Reproduction and Molecular Design, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, People's Republic of China.

Redox Report : Communications in Free Radical Research
|July 21, 2025
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) is crucial for muscle cell (myogenic) differentiation. This study reveals how Drp1, through a feedback loop involving reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitophagy, regulates mitochondrial dynamics and actin remodeling essential for this process.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Mitochondrial Dynamics
  • Muscle Development

Background:

  • Mitochondrial division initiates myogenic differentiation.
  • The precise role of Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) in myogenic differentiation remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the mechanism by which Drp1 regulates myogenic differentiation.
  • To investigate the interplay between Drp1, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitophagy, and the actin cytoskeleton.

Main Methods:

  • Knockdown of Drp1 expression in C2C12 cells and mice using siRNA and AAV9-shDrp1.
  • Analysis of mitochondrial damage, ROS levels, myogenic differentiation markers, mitophagy, and the actin/MRTF-A/SRF pathway via qPCR, Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry.

Main Results:

  • Drp1 expression increases during C2C12 cell differentiation, and its knockdown impairs myotube formation.
  • A feedback loop exists where ROS activate Drp1, which in turn reduces ROS by promoting mitophagy.
  • Drp1 knockdown disrupts ROS homeostasis, affecting actin dynamics and blocking MRTF-A nuclear translocation, thus hindering myogenic differentiation.

Conclusions:

  • This study reveals the functional mechanism of Drp1 in myogenic differentiation.
  • Clarified the interactions among ROS, Drp1-mediated mitophagy, and actin cytoskeleton remodeling during muscle development.
Keywords:
Drp1MRTF-AROSSRFactin cytoskeletoncofilinmitophagymyogenic differentiation

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