Hedgehog signalling and the specification of muscle cell identity in the Zebrafish embryo

Signalling by members of the Hedgehog family of secreted proteins plays a central role in the development of many animal species. In the zebrafish embryo, the specification of myoblast fates is controlled by Hedgehog signals emanating from axial midline structures. Distinct muscle cell identities are induced by varying levels of signalling activity. The SET domain transcription factor, Blimp1, is a key target of Hedgehog signalling in this process.