According to a communications from the CNRS dated July 15, 2026. Based on a scientific paper published in Science Advances to which the IGFL contributed: “Spatiotemporal control of myoblast identity drives muscle diversity in the Drosophila leg.” Thumbnail credit © Jonathan Enriquez
How do very different muscles develop from similar precursors?
By combining lineage tracing, single-cell transcriptomics, imaging, and genetics in Drosophila, a study published in *Science Advances* shows that future myoblasts gradually acquire their own identity under the control of Wnt and BMP signals emitted by the epithelium.
This mechanism sheds light on the origin of muscle diversity and may explain the selective vulnerability of certain muscles.
Reference
Guillermin C, Tribollet V, Bouchet M, Laurencon A, Zhou D, Sarnataro S, Gilquin L, Stevant I, Marcy G, Texeraud E, Ghavi-Helm Y, Gillet B, Hughes S, Vonau S, Enriquez J. « Spatiotemporal control of myoblast identity drives muscle diversity in the Drosophila leg ». Sci Adv. 2026 Jul 3;12(27):eaed0910. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aed0910