Table 1 Human genes involved in myoblast fusion and their fly and amphioxus orthologues, many of which were detected in the amphioxus muscle transcriptome, and one of which was differentially expressed. P in parentheses denotes paralogues not involved directly in myoblast fusion in humans. A larger table including descriptions of their relevant functions can be found in Additional file 1

Cell recognition

Nephrin (NPHS1) (P: NPHS2)

sns (Sticks and stones) & hbs (Hibris)

NPHS

–

Kirrel1, Kirrel2, Kirrel3

duf (Dumfounded) & rst (Roughest)

Kirrel

–

Myomaker (TMEM8C) (P: TMEM8A & TMEM8B)

CG13654

Tmem8a/b/c

yes

–

Myomixer

–

–

–

TANC1, TANC2

rols (Rolling pebbles, a.k.a. Anti-social)

TANC

–

Junctional adhesional molecule 2 (JamB) & 3 (JamC) (P: JamA)

–

JAM

–

Netrin

netA (Netrin-A)

NTN1

yes

–

Neogenin

fra (Frazzled)

Neo

yes

–

Cell adhesion

Cadherin-2 (M-cadherin)

–

Cdh15

yes

–

Cadherin-15 (N-cadherin)

CadN (Cadherin_N)

Caveolin1, Caveolin2, Caveolin3

Caveolin-1

Cav1/3

yes

–

Myoferlin (a.k.a. Fer1L3) (P: Dysferlin Fer1L1, Fer1L5)

mfr (Misfire)

Myof

yes

–

Integrin b1 (P: Integrin b3)

mys (Myospheriod)

ItgB1/3

yes

–

Integrin a1, a3, a4, a5, a6, a7, a9, and av

if (Inflated)

ITGA4, ITGA5, ITGA6

yes

–

Protein tyrosine kinase 2 (PTK2)

fak (Focal adhesion kinase)

Fak

Cell signalling

Brag2 (IQSEC)

siz (Schizo, a.k.a. loner)

IQSEC

yes

–

ADP-ribosylation factor 6 (P: ARF1, 3, 4, & 5)

Arf51F (ADP ribosylation factor at 51F; Arf6)

Arf6

yes

–

Dock1, Dock5

mbc (Myoblast city)

Dock1/5

–

Crk, Crkl

Crk (Crk oncogene)

Crk

yes

–

Elmod1, Elmod2, Elmod3

Ced-12 (ELMO)

ELMOD

–

Rac1 (P: Rac2, Rac3)

Rac1, Rac2

Rac

yes

–

Actin dynamics

–

blow (Blown fuse)

–

–

N-WASP (P:WASP)

WASp

WASP

yes

–

WIPF

Wip (Vrp/Sltr)

WIPF

–

CYFIP1, CYFIP2

Sra-1

CYFIP

–

Nck-associated protein1 Nckap1 (P: Nckap1L)

hem (a.k.a. kette)

NCKAP

–

WASF1 (WASP family member 1) (P: WASF2, WASF3)

scar (Suppressor of cAMP Receptor)

WASF

yes

–

ABI2

abi

ABI

–

Brk1

HSPC300

–

–

Arpc1a, Arpc1b

ArpC

Arp1

yes

–

Arp2, Apr3, Arp4, Arp5

Arp66B

Arp2, Arp3, Arp4, Arp5

yes, all but Arp4

–

Nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 2 (P: NFATC1, 3, 4, & NFAT5)

NFAT (NFAT nuclear factor)

Nfatc

yes

–

Myocyte-specific enhancer factor 2A (P: MEF2B, C, & D)

Mef2

Mef2

yes

yes

Myogenic Differentiation 1, Myogenin, Myogenic factor 5, & Myf 6

Nau (Nautilus)

MRF1, MRF2a, MRF2b, MRF3, & MRF4

yes, all but MRF4

–

Paired box 3 & 7 (P: 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9)

prd (paired)

Pax3/7a, Pax3/7b

yes

–

SIX homeobox 1 & 4 (P: 2, 3, 5, & 6)

sine oculis, Optix, Six4

Six1/2, Six3/6, & Six4/5

yes, Six1/2 & Six4/5

–