Epigenetic Regulation of Myogenesis: Focus on the Histone Variants

Abstract

Skeletal muscle development and regeneration rely on the successive activation of specific transcription factors that engage cellular fate, promote commitment, and drive differentiation. Emerging evidence demonstrates that epigenetic regulation of gene expression is crucial for the maintenance of the cell differentiation status upon division and, therefore, to preserve a specific cellular identity. This depends in part on the regulation of chromatin structure and its level of condensation. Chromatin architecture undergoes remodeling through changes in nucleosome composition, such as alterations in histone post-translational modifications or exchange in the type of histone variants. The mechanisms that link histone post-translational modifications and transcriptional regulation have been extensively evaluated in the context of cell fate and differentiation, whereas histone variants have attracted less attention in the field. In this review, we discuss the studies that have provided insights into the role of histone variants in the regulation of myogenic gene expression, myoblast differentiation, and maintenance of muscle cell identity.