Overexpression of myogenin in muscles of transgenic mice: interaction with Id-1, negative crossregulation of myogenic factors, and induction of extrasynaptic acetylcholine receptor expression.

To investigate the role of myogenin in regulating acetylcholine receptor expression in adult muscle, this muscle-specific basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor was overexpressed in transgenic mice by using regulatory elements conferring strong expression confined to differentiated postmitotic muscle fibers. Many of the transgenic mice died during the first postnatal week, but those that survived into adulthood displayed normal muscle histology, gross morphology, and motor behavior. The mRNA levels of all five acetylcholine receptor subunits (alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and epsilon) were, however, elevated. Also, the level of receptor protein was increased and high levels of receptors were present throughout the extrasynaptic surface membrane of the muscle fibers. Thus, elevated levels of myogenin are apparently sufficient to induce acetylcholine supersensitivity in normally innervated muscle of adult mice. The high neonatal mortality rate of the mice overexpressing myogenin hindered the propagation of a stable line. In an attempt to increase survival, myogenin overexpressers were mated with a line of transgenic mice overexpressing Id-1, a negative regulator that interacts with the basic helix-loop-helix family of transcription factors. The Id-1 transgene apparently worked as a second site suppressor and abolished the high rate of neonatal mortality. This effect indicates that Id-1 and myogenin interact directly or indirectly in these animals. Further study indicated that myogenin overexpression had no effect on the level of endogenous myogenin mRNA, while the levels of myoD and MRF4 mRNAs were reduced. Overexpression of the negative regulator Id-1 increased the mRNA levels of all the myogenic factors. These findings are consistent with a hypothesis suggesting that myogenic factors are influenced by mechanisms that maintain cellular homeostasis.