FGF-4 signaling is involved in mir-206 expression in developing somites of chicken embryos.
The microRNAs (miRNAs) are recently discovered short, noncoding RNAs, that regulate gene expression in metazoans. We have cloned short RNAs from chicken embryos and identified five new chicken miRNA genes. Genome analysis identified 17 new chicken miRNA genes based on sequence homology to previously characterized mouse miRNAs. Developmental Northern blots of chick embryos showed increased accumulation of most miRNAs analyzed from 1.5 days to 5 days except, the stem cell-specific mir-302, which was expressed at high levels at early stages and then declined. In situ analysis of mature miRNAs revealed the restricted expression of mir-124 in the central nervous system and of mir-206 in developing somites, in particular the developing myotome. In addition, we investigated how miR-206 expression is controlled during somite development using bead implants. These experiments demonstrate that fibroblast growth factor (FGF) -mediated signaling negatively regulates the initiation of mir-206 gene expression. This may be mediated through the effects of FGF on somite differentiation. These data provide the first demonstration that developmental signaling pathways affect miRNA expression. Thus far, miRNAs have not been studied extensively in chicken embryos, and our results show that this system can complement other model organisms to investigate the regulation of many other miRNAs.
Sweetman
Dylan
D
School of Biological Science, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom.
Rathjen
Tina
T
Jefferson
Matthew
M
Wheeler
Guy
G
Smith
Terence G
TG
Wheeler
Grant N
GN
Münsterberg
Andrea
A
Dalmay
Tamas
T
D000818:Animals; D030161:Avian Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D051519:Fibroblast Growth Factor 4 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D019170:Somites / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism
D030161:Avian Proteins; D051519:Fibroblast Growth Factor 4; D035683:MicroRNAs