title: Immunofluorescence-based screening identifies germ cell associated microRNA 302 as an antagonist to p63 expression.
abstract: The tumor suppressor homologue p63 is required for proper skin and limb development, but specific isoforms of it also act as a "guardian of the germline." To gain insight into the regulation of p63 expression, we performed immunofluorescence-based screening assays. Using a large collection of microRNA expression plasmids, we identified microRNAs of the 302 cluster as potent suppressors of p63 accumulation in various cell species. MiR-302 reduces p63 protein and mRNA levels through two target sites within the p63 3' untranslated region. In testicular cancer cells, endogenous miR-302 contributes to the suppression of p63. MiR-302 might also contribute to the elimination of p63 in mature oocytes. Thus, miR-302 appears as part of a stringent regulatory mechanism for p63 in germ cells, reminiscent of the tight control for p53 levels in somatic cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Oncology, Göttingen Center of Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Ernst Caspari Haus, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas Hans Joachim
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Scheel
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Beyer
authors.forename: Reuven
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Agami
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dobbelstein