anti-MyoD1 (human), Rabbit Monoclonal (RM369)

MyoD (MyoD1; Myoblast Determination Protein 1) plays a major role in regulating muscle differentiation. It belongs to a family of proteins known as myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs). These bHLH (basic helix loop helix) transcription factors act sequentially in myogenic differentiation. Vertebrate MRF family members include MyoD1, Myf5, myogenin and MRF4 (Myf6). MyoD is one of the earliest markers of myogenic commitment. MyoD is expressed at extremely low and essentially undetectable levels in quiescent satellite cells, but expression of MyoD is activated in response to exercise or muscle tissue damage. High MyoD expression represses cell renewal, promotes terminal differentiation and can induce apoptosis. The function of MyoD in development is to commit mesoderm cells to a skeletal myoblast lineage, and then to regulate that continued state. MyoD may also regulate muscle repair. MyoD mRNA levels are also reported to be elevated in aging skeletal muscle. One of the main actions of MyoD is to remove cells from the cell cycle (halt proliferation for terminal cell cycle arrest in differentiated myocytes) by enhancing the transcription of p21 and myogenin. MyoD, as a transcription factor, can also direct chromatin remodelling through binding to a DNA motif known as the E-box.