miR-451 regulates zebrafish erythroid maturation in vivo via its target gata2.
We demonstrate that in zebrafish, the microRNA miR-451 plays a crucial role in promoting erythroid maturation, in part via its target transcript gata2. Zebrafish miR-144 and miR-451 are processed from a single precursor transcript selectively expressed in erythrocytes. In contrast to other hematopoietic mutants, the zebrafish mutant meunier (mnr) showed intact erythroid specification but diminished miR-144/451 expression. Although erythropoiesis initiated normally in mnr, erythrocyte maturation was morphologically retarded. Morpholino knockdown of miR-451 increased erythrocyte immaturity in wild-type embryos, and miR-451 RNA duplexes partially rescued erythroid maturation in mnr, demonstrating a requirement and role for miR-451 in erythrocyte maturation. mnr provided a selectively miR-144/451-deficient background, facilitating studies to discern miRNA function and validate candidate targets. Among computer-predicted miR-451 targets potentially mediating these biologic effects, the pro-stem cell transcription factor gata2 was an attractive candidate. In vivo reporter assays validated the predicted miR-451/gata2-3'UTR interaction, gata2 down-regulation was delayed in miR-451-knockdown and mnr embryos, and gata2 knockdown partially restored erythroid maturation in mnr, collectively confirming gata2 down-regulation as pivotal for miR-451-driven erythroid maturation. These studies define a new genetic pathway promoting erythroid maturation (mnr/miR-451/gata2) and provide a rare example of partial rescue of a mutant phenotype solely by miRNA overexpression.
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia.
Luke
L
Pase
Judith E
JE
Layton
Wigard P
WP
Kloosterman
Duncan
D
Carradice
Peter M
PM
Waterhouse
Graham J
GJ
Lieschke
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D041905:Erythroid Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D004920:Erythropoiesis / Q000235:genetics*; D050989:GATA2 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D016296:Mutagenesis; D010641:Phenotype; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015027:Zebrafish; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D050989:GATA2 Transcription Factor; C516059:Gata2a protein, zebrafish; D035683:MicroRNAs; C539470:Mirn451 microRNA, zebrafish; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins