Direct molecular regulation of the myogenic determination gene Myf5 by Pax3, with modulation by Six1/4 factors, is exemplified by the −111 kb-Myf5 enhancer

The Myf5 gene plays an important role in myogenic determination during mouse embryo development. Multiple genomic regions of the Mrf4–Myf5 locus have been characterised as enhancer sequences responsible for the complex spatiotemporal expression of the Myf5 gene at the onset of myogenesis. These include an enhancer sequence, located at −111 kb upstream of the Myf5 transcription start site, which is responsible of Myf5 activation in ventral somitic domains (Ribas et al., 2011. Dev. Biol. 355, 372–380). We show that the −111 kb-Myf5 enhancer also directs transgene expression in some limb muscles, and is active at foetal as well as embryonic stages. We have carried out further characterisation of the regulation of this enhancer and show that the paired-box Pax3 transcription factor binds to it in vitro as in vivo, and that Pax binding sites are essential for its activity. This requirement is independent of the previously reported regulation by TEAD transcription factors. Six1/4 which, like Pax3, are important upstream regulators of myogenesis, also bind in vivo to sites in the −111 kb-Myf5 enhancer and modulate its activity. The −111 kb-Myf5 enhancer therefore shares common functional characteristics with another Myf5 regulatory sequence, the hypaxial and limb 145 bp-Myf5 enhancer, both being directly regulated in vivo by Pax3 and Six1/4 proteins. However, in the case of the −111 kb-Myf5 enhancer, Six has less effect and we conclude that Pax regulation plays a major role in controlling this aspect of the Myf5 gene expression at the onset of myogenesis in the embryo.

► Pax3 directly regulates −111 kb-Myf5 enhancer activity in the mouse embryo.
► Six1/4 modulate this enhancer.
► Pax3 acts independently of TEAD factors, binding to an adjacent site.
► The −111 kb-Myf5 enhancer, like that at −57.5 kb from Myf5, thus depends on Pax and Six.
► This exemplifies the role of the Pax/Six G.R.N at the onset of myogenesis.