TitleSurface apposition and multiple cell contacts promote myoblast fusion in Drosophila flight muscles.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsDhanyasi N, Segal D, Shimoni E, Shinder V, Shilo B-Z, VijayRaghavan K, Schejter ED
JournalJ Cell Biol
Volume211
Issue1
Pagination191-203
Date Published2015 Oct 12
ISSN1540-8140
Abstract

Fusion of individual myoblasts to form multinucleated myofibers constitutes a widely conserved program for growth of the somatic musculature. We have used electron microscopy methods to study this key form of cell-cell fusion during development of the indirect flight muscles (IFMs) of Drosophila melanogaster. We find that IFM myoblast-myotube fusion proceeds in a stepwise fashion and is governed by apparent cross talk between transmembrane and cytoskeletal elements. Our analysis suggests that cell adhesion is necessary for bringing myoblasts to within a minimal distance from the myotubes. The branched actin polymerization machinery acts subsequently to promote tight apposition between the surfaces of the two cell types and formation of multiple sites of cell-cell contact, giving rise to nascent fusion pores whose expansion establishes full cytoplasmic continuity. Given the conserved features of IFM myogenesis, this sequence of cell interactions and membrane events and the mechanistic significance of cell adhesion elements and the actin-based cytoskeleton are likely to represent general principles of the myoblast fusion process.

DOI10.1083/jcb.201503005
Alternate JournalJ. Cell Biol.
PubMed ID26459604
PubMed Central IDPMC4602036