Myogenin binds to and represses c‐<i>fos</i> promoter

Abstract

Myogenin (a member of the myogenic basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor family) seems to be the main effector of proliferation repression, a crucial step which precedes muscle cell terminal differentiation during muscle development. Proliferation repression most likely occurs through inhibition of proliferation-associated genes such as the proto-oncogene, c-fos. Here, we demonstrate that myogenin binds to an E-box located in the main element of the c-fos promoter, the serum response element (SRE). Results from co-transfection experiments indicate that myogenin acts as a repressor for the SRE. Our data suggest that myogenin could play a role in c-fos inhibition at the onset of muscle cell terminal differentiation.