Journal
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
Volume 341, Issue 1, Pages 66-83Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2009.10.024
Keywords
Myoblast fusion; Drosophilia; Zebrafish; Mouse actin cystoskeleton; Vesicle trafficking; Membrane dynamics
Categories
Funding
- Sloan Kettering Institute
- NIH [GM 78318]
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology
- Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
- NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES [R01GM078318] Funding Source: NIH RePORTER
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Cell-cell fusion is a crucial and highly regulated event in the genesis of both form and function of many tissues. One particular type of cell fusion, myoblast fusion, is a key cellular process that shapes the formation and repair of muscle. Despite its importance for human health, the mechanisms underlying this process are still not well understood. The purpose of this review is to highlight the recent literature pertaining to myoblast fusion and to focus on a comparison of these studies across several model systems, particularly the fly, zebrafish and mouse. Advances in technical analysis and imaging have allowed identification of new fusion genes and propelled further characterization of previously identified genes in each of these systems. Among the cellular steps identified as critical for myoblast fusion are migration, recognition, adhesion, membrane alignment and membrane pore formation and resolution. Importantly, striking new evidence indicates that orthologous genes govern several of these steps across these species. Taken together, comparisons across three model systems are illuminating a once elusive process, providing exciting new insights and a useful framework of genes and mechanisms. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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