title: RNA-binding protein RBM24 is required for sarcomere assembly and heart contractility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The factors responsible for cardiomyopathy are not fully understood. Our studies of the transcriptome of human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes identified novel genes up-regulated during cardiac differentiation, including RBM24. We therefore studied how its deficiency affected heart development.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of Rbm24 was detected in mouse cardiomyocytes and embryonic myocardium of zebrafish at the RNA and protein level. The Rbm24 loss-of-function showed that Rbm24 deficiency resulted in a reduction in sarcomeric proteins, Z-disc abnormality, and diminished heart contractility, resulting in the absence of circulation in zebrafish embryos. Gene expression profiling revealed down-regulation of multiple pathways associated with sarcomere assembly and vasculature development in Rbm24 deficiency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We identified a novel role of the tissue-specific RNA-binding protein (RBP) Rbm24 involving in the regulation of cardiac gene expression, sarcomeric assembly, and cardiac contractility. This study uncovers a potential novel pathway to cardiomyopathy through down-regulation of the RBP Rbm24.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 61 Biopolis Dr., #08-13 Proteos, Singapore 138673,  Singapore.
authors.forename: Kar Lai
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.forename: Kar Tong
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Yang Ye
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Chee Peng
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colman
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Korzh
authors.forename: Xiu Qin
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D006321:Heart / Q000196:embryology*; D006801:Humans; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000378:metabolism*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012518:Sarcomeres / Q000378:metabolism*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C572909:Rbm24a protein, zebrafish; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins