Myf6

Myf6, also known as MRF4 or Myf-6, is a member of the myogenic regulatory factor (MRF) family of basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors that control skeletal muscle development in vertebrates. The human gene is MYF6; its mouse ortholog is Myf6 (MRF4).

Myf6 functions as a transcription factor that dimerizes with E-proteins to bind E-box sequences in the promoters of muscle-specific genes, contributing to the initiation and maturation of muscle differentiation. It acts in concert with other MRFs—MyoD, Myf5, and myogenin—to regulate the myogenic program, with roles in both myoblast differentiation and late-stage muscle fiber maturation.

Expression during development and in adulthood varies by species but generally includes developing somites and differentiating muscle, with persistence in mature skeletal muscle. Timing and levels of Myf6 expression can differ among organisms, reflecting its context-dependent roles in muscle biology.

Genetic studies in model organisms show functional redundancy within the MRF family. In mice, loss of Myf6 alone often yields modest defects due to compensation by other MRFs, whereas combined mutations with other MRFs reveal more pronounced muscle development abnormalities, highlighting overlapping functions in myogenesis.

Clinically, there are no widely established direct human disease associations with MYF6; research continues to clarify its precise contributions to muscle growth, maintenance, and fiber-type specification, as well as its interactions with signaling pathways that regulate muscle tissue.