Examining roles of ferlins in muscle disease and regeneration using zebrafish models

Skeletal muscle repairs itself after injury, but the proteins controlling this process are not fully understood. Using zebrafish, this study investigated the roles of dysferlin, myoferlin, and myoferlin-like in muscle health, regeneration, and disease. These proteins were not required for normal muscle development but were essential for efficient muscle regeneration. Dysferlin deficiency also impaired repair of damaged muscle cell membranes and worsened muscle damage caused by loss of dystrophin, identifying dysferlin as a genetic modifier of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. These findings provide new insights into the causes of inherited muscle diseases and identify potential targets for future therapies.