Barx2 and Pax7 have antagonistic functions in regulation of wnt signaling and satellite cell differentiation.

ABSTRACT: The canonical Wnt signaling pathway is critical for myogenesis and can induce muscle progenitors to switch from proliferation to differentiation; how Wnt signals integrate with muscle-specific regulatory factors in this process is poorly understood. We previously demonstrated that the Barx2 homeobox protein promotes differentiation in cooperation with the muscle regulatory factor (MRF) MyoD. Pax7, another important muscle homeobox factor, represses differentiation. We now identify Barx2, MyoD, and Pax7 as novel components of the Wnt effector complex, providing a new molecular pathway for regulation of muscle progenitor differentiation. Canonical Wnt signaling induces Barx2 expression in muscle progenitors and perturbation of Barx2 leads to misregulation of Wnt target genes. Barx2 activates

SUBMITTER: Zhuang L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4134105 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature