MicroRNAs Regulate Brain Morphogenesis in Zebrafish

Antonio J. Giráldez(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Ryan M. Cinalli(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Margaret E. Glasner(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Anton J. Enright(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), J. Michael Thomson(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Scott Baskerville(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Scott M. Hammond(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), David P. Bartel(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Alexander F. Schier(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
Science
March 17, 2005
10.1126/science.1109020
Cited by 1,301

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs that regulate gene expression posttranscriptionally. To block all miRNA formation in zebrafish, we generated maternal-zygotic dicer (MZdicer) mutants that disrupt the Dicer ribonuclease III and double-stranded RNA-binding domains. Mutant embryos do not process precursor miRNAs into mature miRNAs, but injection of preprocessed miRNAs restores gene silencing, indicating that the disrupted domains are dispensable for later steps in silencing. MZdicer mutants undergo axis formation and differentiate multiple cell types but display abnormal morphogenesis during gastrulation, brain formation, somitogenesis, and heart development. Injection of miR-430 miRNAs rescues the brain defects in MZdicer mutants, revealing essential roles for miRNAs during morphogenesis.

Related Papers

No related papers found

Powered by citation graph analysis