[5] Myogenin is a muscle-specific basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor involved in the coordination of skeletal muscle development or myogenesis and repair.

In mice, myogenin is essential for the development of functional skeletal muscle.

Myogenin is required for the proper differentiation of most myogenic precursor cells during the process of myogenesis.

When the DNA coding for myogenin was knocked out of the mouse genome, severe skeletal muscle defects were observed.

Mice lacking both copies of myogenin (homozygous-null) suffer from perinatal lethality due to the lack of mature secondary skeletal muscle fibers throughout the body.