DM1 myoblasts transduced with KCa1.1 α, but not those transduced with GFP, significantly increased their mef2 expression (Figures 7e and f) thus demonstrating that the introduction of KCa1.1 is sufficient to induce fusion of DM1 myoblasts into myotubes when cultured in fusion medium. Here, KCNMA1 is linked to myotonic dystrophy type 1.