Development Aspects of Zebrafish Myotendinous Junction: a Model System for Understanding Muscle Basement Membrane Formation and Failure

Purpose of Review The muscle is separated from tendons by a specialised basement membrane that acts as the structural interface of the myotendinous junction (MTJ). In zebrafish, the larval MTJ forms at the vertical myosepta, which separate the individual myomeres that arise during somitogenesis. In this review, we examine the formation of the vertical myosepta in zebrafish. We then describe insights this gains us in the context of muscle basement membrane failure, the mechanistic basis of the inherited muscle wasting condition muscular dystrophy (MD). Recent Findings We examine recent manuscripts that investigate how a well-orchestrated integration of MTJ components is needed during vertical myosepta development. We find the process can be divided into three stereotypical stages of its development based on specific structural properties of the developing basement membrane. Summary This review highlights insights that have been gleaned from vertical myosepta formation in zebrafish that maybe of value in developing therapeutic strategies for MD.