MicroRNA control of Nodal signalling.
MicroRNAs are crucial modulators of gene expression, yet their involvement as effectors of growth factor signalling is largely unknown. Ligands of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily are essential for development and adult tissue homeostasis. In early Xenopus embryos, signalling by the transforming growth factor-beta ligand Nodal is crucial for the dorsal induction of the Spemann's organizer. Here we report that Xenopus laevis microRNAs miR-15 and miR-16 restrict the size of the organizer by targeting the Nodal type II receptor Acvr2a. Endogenous miR-15 and miR-16 are ventrally enriched as they are negatively regulated by the dorsal Wnt/beta-catenin pathway. These findings exemplify the relevance of microRNAs as regulators of early embryonic patterning acting at the crossroads of fundamental signalling cascades.
Martello
Graziano
G
Department of Histology, Microbiology and Medical Biotechnologies, Section of Histology and Embryology, University of Padua, viale Colombo 3, 35126 Padua, Italy.
Zacchigna
Luca
L
Inui
Masafumi
M
Montagner
Marco
M
Adorno
Maddalena
M
Mamidi
Anant
A
Morsut
Leonardo
L
Soligo
Sandra
S
Tran
Uyen
U
Dupont
Sirio
S
Cordenonsi
Michelangelo
M
Wessely
Oliver
O
Piccolo
Stefano
S
D030301:Activin Receptors, Type II / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D028341:Activins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055457:Nodal Protein; D020897:Organizers, Embryonic / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism
C000609088:MIRN15 microRNA, Xenopus; D035683:MicroRNAs; D055457:Nodal Protein; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin; D028341:Activins; D030301:Activin Receptors, Type II