Six homeoproteins and a linc-RNA cooperate at the fast MYH locus to lock terminal fast myofibre phenotype

Thousands of long intergenic noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs) are encoded by the mammalian genome, which were reported to have multiple biological functions as transcriptional activators acting in cis 1 or trans 2, transcriptional repressors 3,4 or miRNAs decoys 5,6. However, the function of most lincRNAs has not yet been identified in vivo. Here, we demonstrate a role for linc-MYH, a novel long intergenic noncoding RNA, in adult fast-type myofibre specialization. Skeletal myofibre fast and slow phenotypes are established through differential expression of numerous fibre-specific genes7. We show linc-MYH and the fast MYH genes share a common enhancer located in the fast MYH genes locus and regulated by the Six1 homeoproteins. Muscle-specific Six1 mutant mice show increased expression of slow-type genes, and downregulation of linc-MYH and fast-type genes. linc-MYH function revealed by in vivo knockdown and wide transcriptomic analysis, is in fine to prevent expression of genes ensuring slow muscle contractile properties, and to increase fast-type muscle gene expression in fast-type myofibres. Thus, formation of efficient fast sarcomeric units and appropriate Ca++ cycling and excitation/contraction/relaxation coupling in fast- myofibres is achieved through the coordiante control of fast MYHs and linc-MYH expression by a Six bound enhancer.

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Sakakibara I, Santolini M, Ferry A, Hakim V, Maire P