Efficient muscle regeneration is essential in mammals in order to overcome daily stress such as wounds, exercise and pathologic processes. This regeneration relies on muscle stem cells, the satellite cells. After a lesion, satellite cells are activated, proliferate and differentiate in fonctionnal muscle fibers. Our laboratory has previously shown that the transcription factor GATA-6 is expressed in the satellite cells. The present thesis confirms the expression of this factor in this cell type. Also, it seems that GATA-6 could be implicated in the maintaining of quiescence of these cells. The GATA-6 heterozygous mouse muscle is characterized by an increase level of Myf5 and Pax7+ cells. Moreover, suppression of one copy of the GATA-6 gene in a muscular dystrophy model mouse, the mdx mice, alleviates its phenotype. Further experiments on a muscle-specific GATA-6 null mouse will allow a better understanding of the role of GATA-6 in muscle regeneration. / Keywords. GATA-6, muscle regeneration, mdx, satellite cells

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Thesis (Ph.D. in Molecular Biology) -- University of Colorado Denver, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 160-175). Free to UCD affiliates. Online version available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations;