The microRNA-producing enzyme Dicer1 is essential for zebrafish development.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are produced by the Dicer1 enzyme; the role of Dicer1 in vertebrate development is unknown. Here we report target-selected inactivation of the dicer1 gene in zebrafish. We observed an initial build-up of miRNA levels, produced by maternal Dicer1, in homozygous dicer1 mutants, but miRNA accumulation stopped after a few days. This resulted in developmental arrest around day 10. These results indicate that miRNA-producing Dicer1 is essential for vertebrate development.
Wienholds
Erno
E
Department of Functional Genomics, Hubrecht Laboratory, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Koudijs
Marco J
MJ
van Eeden
Freek J M
FJ
Cuppen
Edwin
E
Plasterk
Ronald H A
RH
D000818:Animals; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D004722:Endoribonucleases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D020868:Gene Silencing; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009154:Mutation; D020365:RNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D043244:Ribonuclease III; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology*
D035683:MicroRNAs; D004722:Endoribonucleases; C408087:DICER1 protein, human; D043244:Ribonuclease III; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D020365:RNA Helicases