Key Step In Muscle-Fiber Formation ID’d

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Key Step In Muscle-Fiber Formation ID'd

http://www.mdausa.org/research/070914musclefiber.html

A key step that controls whether immature muscle cells will mature

into muscle fibers has been identified by scientists at the

University of California-Berkeley. Divina Deato and

Tjian, who announced their results online Aug. 17 in Genes &

Development, identified two molecules that have to stick to each

other and to a specific DNA sequence for myoblasts (immature muscle

cells) to fuse with each other and become myotubes (early muscle

fibers).

They say proteins known as TRF3 and TAF3 have to stick together and

replace another cluster of proteins that would direct the cell along

alternative pathways.

The finding may prove useful in the development of treatments

involving muscle stem cells.