Noggin recruits mesoderm progenitors from the dorsal aorta to a skeletal myogenic fate

► Cells of the embryonic aorta undergo skeletal myogenesis when co-cultured with myoblasts ► Neutralization of endothelium-derived BMP2/4 enhance myogenesis of aorta-associated progenitors ► Noggin, produced by developing myofibers enhance myogenesis of aorta-associated progenitors ► Aorta-associated cells endowed with myogenic potency express the pericyte marker NG2 ► Aorta derived myogenesis follows a cranio-caudal wave between E10 and E12 of embryo development