Loss of function of myosin chaperones triggers Hsf1-mediated transcriptional response in skeletal muscle cells

BACKGROUND: Mutations in myosin chaperones Unc45b and Hsp90aa1.1 as well as in the Unc45b-binding protein Smyd1b impair formation of myofibrils in skeletal muscle and lead to the accumulation of misfolded myosin. The concomitant transcriptional response involves up-regulation of the three genes encoding these proteins, as well as genes involved in muscle development. The transcriptional up-regulation of unc45b, hsp90aa1.1 and smyd1b is specific to zebrafish mutants with myosin folding defects, and is not triggered in other zebrafish myopathy models. RESULTS: By dissecting the promoter of unc45b, we identify a Heat shock factor 1 (Hsf1) binding element as a mediator of unc45b up-regulation in myofibers lacking myosin folding proteins. Loss-of-function of Hsf1 abolishes unc45b up-regulation in mutants with defects in myosin folding. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our data show that skeletal muscle cells respond to defective myosin chaperones with a complex gene program and suggest that this response is mediated by Hsf1 activation. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13059-015-0825-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.