Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center identified a key protein -- a transcription factor called myocardin -- that controls the development of muscle types in the human fetus, suggesting new ways to treat atherosclerosis and cancer.

Until now, myocardin was only thought of as a protein that turns on genes that make smooth muscle cells, the scientists said. But findings of the new study show myocardin also turn offs genes that make skeletal muscle.

"These findings could eventually lead to stem-cell based therapies where researchers take control of what the stem cell does once implanted through the action of transcription factors like myocardin, unlike current therapies that 'hope' the stem cell will take a correct differentiation path to fight disease," said Assistant Professor Joseph Miano, senior author of the study.

The research is detailed in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.