EZH2 modulates retinoic acid signaling to ensure myotube formation during development

Abstract

Sequential differentiation of presomitic progenitors into myocytes and subsequently into myotubes and myofibers is essential for the myogenic differentiation program (MDP) crucial for muscle development. Signaling factors involved in MDP are polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) targets in various developmental contexts. PRC2 is active in the developing myotomes during MDP, but how it regulates MDP is unclear. Here, we found that myocyte differentiation to myotubes requires Enhancer of Zeste 2 (EZH2), the catalytic component of PRC2. We observed elevated retinoic acid (RA) signaling in the prospective myocytes in the Ezh2 mutants (E8.5-MusEzh2), and its inhibition can partially rescue the myocyte differentiation defect. Together, our data demonstrate a new role for PRC2–EZH2 during myocyte differentiation into myotubes by modulating RA signaling.