Feedback regulation of Notch signaling and myogenesis connected by MyoD-Dll1 axis

PLoS Genet. 2021 Aug 9;17(8):e1009729. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009729. eCollection 2021 Aug.

Abstract

Muscle precursor cells known as myoblasts are essential for muscle development and regeneration. Notch signaling is an ancient intercellular communication mechanism that plays prominent roles in controlling the myogenic program of myoblasts. Currently whether and how the myogenic cues feedback to refine Notch activities in these cells are largely unknown. Here, by mouse and human gene gain/loss-of-function studies, we report that MyoD directly turns on the expression of Notch-ligand gene Dll1 which activates Notch pathway to prevent precautious differentiation in neighboring myoblasts, while autonomously inhibits Notch to facilitate a myogenic program in Dll1 expressing cells. Mechanistically, we studied cis-regulatory DNA motifs underlying the MyoD-Dll1-Notch axis in vivo by characterizing myogenesis of a novel E-box deficient mouse model, as well as in human cells through CRISPR-mediated interference. These results uncovered the crucial transcriptional mechanism that mediates the reciprocal controls of Notch and myogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Feedback, Physiological / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / genetics
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Muscle Development / genetics
  • Muscle Development / physiology
  • MyoD Protein / metabolism*
  • MyoD Protein / physiology
  • Myoblasts / metabolism
  • PAX7 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Receptors, Notch / genetics
  • Receptors, Notch / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / genetics

Substances

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • DLK1 protein, human
  • Dlk1 protein, mouse
  • Membrane Proteins
  • MyoD Protein
  • PAX7 Transcription Factor
  • Receptors, Notch

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the starting up fund from the University of Georgia to P.B. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.