Myocyte enhancer factor 2 upregulates expression of myostatin promoter in Yesso scallop, Patinopecten yessoensis

Abstract

Myostatin (MSTN) plays an important role in muscle development in animals, especially for mammals and fishes. However, little information has been reported on the regulation of MSTN in marine invertebrates, such as bivalves. In the present study, we cloned the MSTN promoter sequence of Yesso scallop Patinopecten yessoensis, identifying 4 transcription start sites, eleven TATA boxes and one E-box. Additionally, transcription factor binding sites, including myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) and POU homeodomain protein, were identified. The interaction between the MSTN promoter and MEF2 was analyzed to reveal the transcriptional activity of different fragment sizes of promoters through the dual-luciferase reporter assays. The highest transcriptional activity was found in recombinant plasmids with the most MEF2 binding sites, indicating that this transcription factor upregulates MSTN in Yesso scallop. This study provides new insight into the regulation of muscle growth and development in this species.