Structure–function analysis of myomaker domains required for myoblast fusion

DP Millay, DG Gamage, ME Quinn… - Proceedings of the …, 2016 - National Acad Sciences
DP Millay, DG Gamage, ME Quinn, YL Min, Y Mitani, R Bassel-Duby, EN Olson
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2016National Acad Sciences
During skeletal muscle development, myoblasts fuse to form multinucleated myofibers.
Myomaker [Transmembrane protein 8c (TMEM8c)] is a muscle-specific protein that is
essential for myoblast fusion and sufficient to promote fusion of fibroblasts with muscle cells;
however, the structure and biochemical properties of this membrane protein have not been
explored. Here, we used CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis to disrupt myomaker expression in the
C2C12 muscle cell line, which resulted in complete blockade to fusion. To define the …
During skeletal muscle development, myoblasts fuse to form multinucleated myofibers. Myomaker [Transmembrane protein 8c (TMEM8c)] is a muscle-specific protein that is essential for myoblast fusion and sufficient to promote fusion of fibroblasts with muscle cells; however, the structure and biochemical properties of this membrane protein have not been explored. Here, we used CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis to disrupt myomaker expression in the C2C12 muscle cell line, which resulted in complete blockade to fusion. To define the functional domains of myomaker required to direct fusion, we established a heterologous cell–cell fusion system, in which fibroblasts expressing mutant versions of myomaker were mixed with WT myoblasts. Our data indicate that the majority of myomaker is embedded in the plasma membrane with seven membrane-spanning regions and a required intracellular C-terminal tail. We show that myomaker function is conserved in other mammalian orthologs; however, related family members (TMEM8a and TMEM8b) do not exhibit fusogenic activity. These findings represent an important step toward deciphering the cellular components and mechanisms that control myoblast fusion and muscle formation.
National Acad Sciences