Myogenic Factor 5 (MYF5)

Myf5 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. MRF family members include Myf5, MyoD (Myf3), myogenin, and MRF4 (Myf6).

Sequence analysis and the pattern of expression of MYF5 in human muscle showed that MYF5, although structurally related to MyoD1, constitutes a different protein that is nevertheless capable of inducing the myogenic phenotype in embryonic C3H mouse fibroblasts. In mice, the myogenic basic-helix-loop-helix genes are activated sequentially during the skeletal muscle developmental program. Myf5 mRNA was first detected in the 8-day somite and was markedly reduced after day 14