Betaglycan promoter activity is differentially regulated during myogenesis in zebrafish embryo somites

BackgroundBetaglycan, also known as the TGF beta type III receptor (Tgfbr3), is a co-receptor that modulates TGF beta family signaling. Tgfbr3 is upregulated during C2C12 myoblast differentiation and expressed in mouse embryos myocytes. ResultsTo investigate tgfbr3 transcriptional regulation during zebrafish embryonic myogenesis, we cloned a 3.2 kb promoter fragment that drives reporter transcription during C2C12 myoblasts differentiation and in the Tg(tgfbr3:mCherry) transgenic zebrafish. We detect tgfbr3 protein and mCherry expression in the adaxial cells concomitantly with the onset of their radial migration to become slow-twitch muscle fibers in the Tg(tgfbr3:mCherry). Remarkably, this expression displays a measurable antero-posterior somitic gradient expression. Conclusionstgfbr3 is transcriptionally regulated during somitic muscle development in zebrafish with an antero-posterior gradient expression that preferentially marks the adaxial cells and their descendants.

Automated summary

This study found that tgfbr3 is transcriptionally regulated during somitic muscle development in zebrafish with a specific antero-posterior gradient expression, preferentially marking the adaxial cells and their descendants.