Wnt1 and Wnt3a are signaling factors known to play a role in the induction of myogenesis in
the myotome of the differentiating somite. Both factors may transduce their signal by a
conserved pathway that leads to transcriptional regulation by β-catenin/Lef1. β-Catenin and
Lef1 are found in the myotome prior to MyoD expression. We have utilized the P19 cell
system to study the mechanisms by which Wnt3a may activate MyoD expression and
subsequent skeletal muscle development. We have isolated P19 cell lines that stably …