Control of Facial Muscle Development by MyoR and Capsulin

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1078273
• Publication Date: 2002-12-20T00:05:02Z
• Authors: Jian-rong Lu; Rhonda Bassel-Duby; April Hawkins; Priscilla Chang; Renee Valdez; Hai Wu; Lin Gan; John M. Shelton; James A. Richardson; Eric N. Olson
• Keywords: Hernia, Diaphragmatic; Male; 0303 health sciences; Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs; Homozygote; Facial Muscles; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Apoptosis; Cleft Palate; DNA-Binding Proteins; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Branchial Region; Gene Targeting; Masticatory Muscles; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Animals; Cell Lineage; Female; Head; Crosses, Genetic

Members of the MyoD family of basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors control the formation of all skeletal muscles in vertebrates, but little is known of the molecules or mechanisms that confer unique identities to different types of skeletal muscles. MyoR and capsulin are related bHLH transcription factors expressed in specific facial muscle precursors. We show that specific facial muscles are missing in mice lacking both MyoR and capsulin , reflecting the absence of MyoD family gene expression and ablation of the corresponding myogenic lineages. These findings identify MyoR and capsulin as unique transcription factors for the development of specific head muscles.