title: A functional study of miR-124 in the developing neural tube.
abstract: Neural development is a highly orchestrated process that entails precise control of gene expression. Although microRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in fine-tuning gene networks, the roles of individual miRNAs in vertebrate neural development have not been studied in vivo. We investigated the function of the most abundant neuronal miRNA, miR-124, during spinal cord development. Neither inhibition nor overexpression of miR-124 significantly altered the acquisition of neuronal fate, suggesting that miR-124 is unlikely to act as a primary determinant of neuronal differentiation. Two endogenous targets of miR-124, laminin gamma 1 and integrin beta1, were identified, both of which are highly expressed by neural progenitors but repressed upon neuronal differentiation. Thus miR-124 appears to ensure that progenitor genes are post-transcriptionally inhibited in neurons.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Xinwei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Samuel L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Pfaff
authors.forename: Fred H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Gage
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000196:embryology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002642:Chick Embryo; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000235:genetics; D007797:Laminin / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019012:Integrin beta1; D007797:Laminin; D035683:MicroRNAs; C089141:laminin gamma 1