Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026
11:02
Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Assay for Tissue-specific Genes using Early-stage Mouse Embryos
Published on: April 29, 2011
Muscle morphogenetic protein induces myogenic gene expression in Swiss-3T3 cells
H E Young1, J J Rogers, L R Adkison
1Division of Basic Medical Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, GA 31207, USA.
Summary
Muscle morphogenetic protein can activate muscle development in Swiss-3T3 cells. This protein induces the expression of key genes, MyoD and myogenin, suggesting its role in initiating myogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Myogenesis, the development of skeletal muscle, is regulated by the MyoD family of genes.
- Exogenous activators of myogenic regulatory genes are not well-characterized.
- Previous work demonstrated muscle morphogenetic protein induces avian stem cell myogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the capacity of muscle morphogenetic protein to induce myogenesis in a mammalian cell line.
- To determine if muscle morphogenetic protein can activate the expression of MyoD and myogenin genes in Swiss-3T3 cells.
Main Methods:
- Cloning of Swiss-3T3 fibroblasts to ensure cell homogeneity and pluripotency.
- Propagation of cloned cells over multiple generations (690 cell doublings) to assess stability.
- Treatment of cells with muscle morphogenetic protein and analysis of MyoD and myogenin mRNA expression via in situ hybridization.
Main Results:
- Muscle morphogenetic protein treatment led to the induction of MyoD mRNA expression.
- Muscle morphogenetic protein treatment also induced myogenin mRNA expression.
- These findings indicate successful induction of myogenesis markers in Swiss-3T3 cells.
Conclusions:
- Muscle morphogenetic protein acts as an exogenous activator of myogenesis.
- The MyoD and myogenin genes are responsive to muscle morphogenetic protein in a mammalian fibroblastic cell line.
- This study provides evidence for a novel signaling pathway in muscle development.
Related Concept Videos
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...
01:21Satellite Stem Cells and Muscular Dystrophy
Satellite stem cells or myosatellite cells are quiescent stem cells that Alexander Mauro first identified in 1961. These cells are located between the sarcolemma, the plasma membrane of muscle fibers, and the basal lamina, the connective tissue sheath covering it. These mononucleated cells are activated in response to muscle injury, can transform into myoblasts, and may form or repair muscle fibers. Myosatellite cells can provide additional myonuclei for muscle regeneration or return to a...