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The cellular architecture and molecular determinants of the zebrafish fusogenic synapse
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

The cellular architecture and molecular determinants of the zebrafish fusogenic synapse

Zhou Luo, Jun Shi, Pratima Pandey, Zhi-Rong Ruan, Maria Sevdali, Ye Bu, Yue Lu, Shaojun Du and Elizabeth H. Chen
Developmental cell, Vol.57(13), pp.1582-1597.e6
07/11/2022
DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2022.05.016
PMCID: PMC10180866
PMID: 35709765
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.devcel.2022.05.016View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Myoblast fusion is an indispensable process in skeletal muscle development and regeneration. Studies in Drosophila led to the discovery of the asymmetric fusogenic synapse, in which one cell invades its fusion partner with actin-propelled membrane protrusions to promote fusion. However, the timing and sites of vertebrate myoblast fusion remain elusive. Here, we show that fusion between zebrafish fast muscle cells is mediated by an F-actin-enriched invasive structure. Two cell adhesion molecules, Jam2a and Jam3b, are associated with the actin structure, with Jam2a being the major organizer. The Arp2/3 actin nucle-ation-promoting factors, WAVE and WASP???but not the bipartite fusogenic proteins, Myomaker or Myo-mixer???promote the formation of the invasive structure. Moreover, the convergence of fusogen-containing microdomains and the invasive protrusions is a prerequisite for cell membrane fusion. Thus, our study pro-vides unprecedented insights into the cellular architecture and molecular determinants of the asymmetric fu-sogenic synapse in an intact vertebrate animal.
Cell Biology Developmental Biology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Science & Technology

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