Chemical reprogramming of melanocytes to skeletal muscle cells.

Background: Direct cell-fate conversion by chemical reprogramming is promising for regenerative cell therapies. However, this process requires the reactivation of a set of master transcription factors (TFs) of the target cell type, which has proven challenging using only small molecules.

Methods: We developed a novel small-molecule cocktail permitting robust skin cell to muscle cell conversion.

Myogenesis controlled by a long non-coding RNA 1700113A16RIK and post-transcriptional regulation.

Long non-coding (lnc) RNA plays important roles in many cellular processes. The function of the vast majority of lncRNAs remains unknown. Here we identified that lncRNA-1700113A16RIK existed in skeletal muscle stem cells (MuSCs) and was significantly elevated during MuSC differentiation.

Msi2-mediated MiR7a-1 processing repression promotes myogenesis.

Background: Most of the microRNAs (MiRs) involved in myogenesis are transcriptional regulated. The role of MiR biogenesis in myogenesis has not been characterized yet. RNA-binding protein Musashi 2 (Msi2) is considered to be one of the major drivers for oncogenesis and stem cell proliferation.