FuRMAS: triggering myoblast fusion in <i>Drosophila</i>

Önel, Susanne‐Filiz; Renkawitz‐Pohl, Renate

doi:10.1002/dvdy.21961

Cited by 60 publications

(81 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…Involvement of the Arp2/3 nucleation system in the formation of fusion-associated actin foci Spherical F-actin-rich structures closely associated with myoblast fusion pore formation during Drosophila embryogenesis have been recently described and extensively characterized (Onel and Renkawitz-Pohl, 2009;Richardson et al, 2008;Richardson et al, 2007;Sens et al, 2010). Our observation of very similar structures during the period of adult muscle growth via fusion now suggests that these foci are a universal feature of the myoblast fusion process.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 57%

“…Furthermore, we describe transient F-actin structures that form in myoblasts near the onset of fusion, under the influence of the Arp2/3 actin polymerization machinery, but independently of the Wsp and SCAR nucleating systems. These findings underscore the significant roles played by the actin-based cytoskeleton in the myoblast fusion process (Onel and Renkawitz-Pohl, 2009;Richardson et al, 2008), and, in particular, generalize and accentuate the myogenic role of the WASp pathway.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 52%

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The actin nucleator WASp is required for myoblast fusion during adultDrosophilamyogenesis

et al. 2011

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SUMMARYMyoblast fusion provides a fundamental, conserved mechanism for muscle fiber growth. We demonstrate here that the functional contribution of Wsp, the Drosophila homolog of the conserved actin nucleation-promoting factor (NPF) WASp, is essential for myoblast fusion during the formation of muscles of the adult fly. Disruption of Wsp function results in complete arrest of myoblast fusion in all muscles examined. Wsp activity during adult Drosophila myogenesis is specifically required for muscle cell fusion and is crucial both for the formation of new muscle fibers and for the growth of muscles derived from persistent larval templates. Although Wsp is expressed both in fibers and individual myoblasts, its activity in either one of these cell types is sufficient. SCAR, a second major Arp2/3 NPF, is also required during adult myoblast fusion. Formation of fusionassociated actin 'foci' is dependent on Arp2/3 complex function, but appears to rely on a distinct, unknown nucleator. The comprehensive nature of these requirements identifies Arp2/3-based branched actin polymerization as a universal mechanism underlying myoblast fusion.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 57%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 52%

The actin nucleator WASp is required for myoblast fusion during adultDrosophilamyogenesis

et al. 2011

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“…Many of these are known to function in the context of the actin-based cytoskeleton, and indeed, a large, transient actin 'focus' structure is present at sites of myoblast fusion (Kesper et al, 2007;Kim et al, 2007;Richardson et al, 2007;Gildor et al, 2009;Haralalka et al, 2011). Ultrastructural analysis has given rise to a number of models for progress of fusion at the subcellular level, in which roles for cell adhesion, vesicular entities and cytoskeletal structures have been proposed to provide a mechanistic basis for fusion pore formation and plasma membrane dissolution (Doberstein et al, 1997;Kim et al, 2007;Massarwa et al, 2007;Onel and Renkawitz-Pohl, 2009;Sens et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bidirectional Notch activation represses fusion competence in swarming adultDrosophilamyoblasts

2012

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SUMMARYA major aspect of indirect flight muscle formation during adult Drosophila myogenesis involves transition of a semi-differentiated and proliferating pool of myoblasts to a mature myoblast population, capable of fusing with nascent myotubes and generating mature muscle fibers. Here we examine the molecular genetic programs underlying these two phases of myoblast differentiation. We show that the cell adhesion proteins Dumbfounded (Duf) and Sticks and stones (Sns), together with their paralogs Roughest (Rst) and Hibris (Hbs), respectively, are required for adhesion of migrating myoblasts to myotubes and initiation of myoblast-myotube fusion. As myoblasts approach their myotube targets, they are maintained in a semi-differentiated state by continuous Notch activation, where each myoblast provides the ligand Delta to its neighbors. This unique form of bidirectional Notch activation is achieved by finely tuning the levels of the ligand and receptor. Activation of Notch signaling in myoblasts represses expression of key fusion elements such as Sns. Only upon reaching the vicinity of the myotubes does Notch signaling decay, leading to terminal differentiation of the myoblasts. The ensuing induction of proteins required for fusion enables myoblasts to fuse with the myotubes and give rise to subsequent muscle fiber growth.

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“…Although we were not able to directly observe fusion events in our live imaging, we propose that the initial clusters of two to three cells correspond to the described first phase of myoblast fusion and the elongation into rows to the second phase (reviewed e.g. in Önel and Renkawitz-Pohl, 2009). Since we did not specifically analyze the expression prior to 15-18 h APF, we do not know if duf-Gal4 is initially expressed in all WHPs at low levels.…”

Section: Wing Heart Muscle Formation Resembles Adult Myogenesis But Ementioning

confidence: 88%

In vivo imaging of Drosophila wing heart development during pupal stages

Tögel

Pass²,

Paululat³

2013

Int. J. Dev. Biol.

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Wing hearts are small pumping organs that maintain the flow of hemolymph through the wing veins of insects. In Drosophila, these organs consist of parallel oriented muscle cells and a simple epithelium of connective tissue. Both tissues originate from eight embryonic wing heart progenitors (WHPs), which remain dormant until late larval stages. Most of the differentiation and maturation takes place during the pupal stage following head eversion. In this study, we have used the tissue specific expression of Gal4 enhancer lines, in combination with the live cell markers GFP and DsRed to investigate pupal wing heart development in conjunction with the surrounding tissues. We found that WHPs interact with the tracheal system and specific expression domains of the adult epidermis. Additionally, wing heart development occurs simultaneously with the remodeling of the dorso-lateral epidermis into the scutellum and the scutellar arms. Myogenesis in wing hearts comprises known processes such as founder cell specification, but also new features like removal of growing myotubes, and nuclei movement. Wing heart epithelium development is accomplished by the mesenchymal-epithelial transition of WHPs and occurs slightly delayed to muscle development. The epithelium represents a novel mesodermally derived secondary epithelium. Moreover, we have identified a nerve that runs along the epithelium and innervates the wing heart muscle cells.

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FuRMAS: triggering myoblast fusion in Drosophila

Cited by 60 publications

References 82 publications

The actin nucleator WASp is required for myoblast fusion during adultDrosophilamyogenesis

The actin nucleator WASp is required for myoblast fusion during adultDrosophilamyogenesis

Bidirectional Notch activation represses fusion competence in swarming adultDrosophilamyoblasts

In vivo imaging of Drosophila wing heart development during pupal stages

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