The time of appearance of the C. elegans let-7 microRNA is transcriptionally controlled utilizing a temporal regulatory element in its promoter.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a large family of small regulatory RNAs that are poorly understood. The let-7 miRNA regulates the timing of the developmental switch from larval to adult cell fates during Caenorhabditis elegans development. Expression of let-7 RNA is temporally regulated, with robust expression in the fourth larval and adult stages. Here, we show that, like let-7 RNA, a transcriptional fusion of the let-7 promoter to gfp is temporally regulated, indicating that let-7 is transcriptionally controlled. Temporal upregulation of let-7 transcription requires an enhancer element, the temporal regulatory element (TRE), situated about 1200 base pairs upstream of the start of the mature let-7 RNA. The TRE is both necessary and sufficient for this temporal upregulation. A TRE binding factor (TREB) is able to bind to the TRE, and a 22-base pair inverted repeat within the TRE is necessary and sufficient for this binding. We also find that the nuclear hormone receptor DAF-12 and the RNA binding protein LIN-28 are both required for the correct timing of let-7 RNA and let-7::gfp expression. We speculate that these heterochronic genes regulate let-7 expression through its TRE.
Johnson
Steven M
SM
Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, P.O. Box 208103, New Haven, CT 06520-8103, USA.
Lin
Shin Yi
SY
Slack
Frank J
FJ
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001483:Base Sequence; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D005812:Genes, Switch; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; C064359:DAF-1 protein, C elegans; C452195:LIN-28 protein, C elegans; D035683:MicroRNAs; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C474488:let-7 microRNA, C elegans