The conserved miR-51 microRNA family is redundantly required for embryonic development and pharynx attachment in Caenorhabditis elegans.
microRNAs (miRNAs) are approximately 22-nucleotide small RNAs that act as endogenous regulators of gene expression by base-pairing with target mRNAs. Here we analyze the function of the six members of the Caenorhabditis elegans miR-51 family of miRNAs (miR-51, miR-52, miR-53, miR-54, miR-55, miR-56). miR-51 family miRNAs are broadly expressed from mid-embryogenesis onward. The miR-51 family is redundantly required for embryonic development. mir-51 family mutants display a highly penetrant pharynx unattached (Pun) phenotype, where the pharyngeal muscle, the food pump of C. elegans, is not attached to the mouth. Unusually, the Pun phenotype in mir-51 family mutants is not due to a failure to attach, but instead a failure to maintain attachment during late embryogenesis. Expression of the miR-51 family in the mouth is sufficient to maintain attachment. The Fat cadherin ortholog CDH-3 is expressed in the mouth and is a direct target of the miR-51 family miRNAs. Genetic analysis reveals that miR-51 family miRNAs might act in part through CDH-3 to regulate pharynx attachment. This study is the first to assign a function to the miR-51/miR-100 miRNA family in any organism.
Shaw
W Robert
WR
Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom.
Armisen
Javier
J
Lehrbach
Nicolas J
NJ
Miska
Eric A
EA
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020405:Dermis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D010614:Pharynx / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
C103967:CDH-3 protein, C elegans; D015820:Cadherins; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D035683:MicroRNAs