The enemy within: intronic miR-26b represses its host gene, ctdsp2, to regulate neurogenesis.
Differentiation of multipotent stem cells occurs through the highly coordinated control of gene expression. Repressor element 1 (RE1) silencing transcription factor (REST), a master transcriptional regulator in neuronal stem cells, restricts neuronal gene expression. REST activity is context-dependent and is modified by its cofactors, such as Ctdsp2. In this issue of Genes & Development, Dill and colleagues (pp. 25-30) report on the microRNA-mediated regulation of neural differentiation. Interestingly, this microRNA is post-transcriptionally regulated and modulates expression of its host gene, ctdsp2.
Laboratory of Genetics, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
Jinju
J
Han
Ahmet M
AM
Denli
Fred H
FH
Gage
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / Q000235:genetics*; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D035683:MicroRNAs; C569904:Mirn26 microRNA, zebrafish; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C569905:CTDSP2 protein, zebrafish; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases