title: Dre-miR-2188 targets Nrp2a and mediates proper intersegmental vessel development in zebrafish embryos.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small RNAs that are implicated in the control of eukaryotic gene expression by binding to the 3'UTR of target mRNAs. Several algorithms have been developed for miRNA target prediction however, experimental validation is still essential for the correct identification of miRNA targets. We have recently predicted that Neuropilin2a (Nrp2a), a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor which is essential for normal developmental angiogenesis in zebrafish, is a dre-miR-2188 target.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here we show that dre-miR-2188 targets the 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR) of Nrp2a mRNA and is implicated in proper intersegmental vessel development in vivo. Over expression of miR-2188 in zebrafish embryos down regulates Nrp2a expression and results in intersegmental vessel disruption, while its silencing increases Nrp2a expression and intersegmental vessel sprouting. An in vivo GFP sensor assay based on a fusion between the GFP coding region and the Nrp2a 3'UTR confirms that miR-2188 binds to the 3'UTR of Nrp2a and inhibits protein translation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We demonstrate that miR-2188 targets Nrp2a and affects intersegmental vessel development in zebrafish embryos.
authors: RNA Biology Laboratory, Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors: Ana R
authors: AR
authors: Soares
authors: Marisa
authors: M
authors: Reverendo
authors: Patrícia M
authors: PM
authors: Pereira
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: Nivelles
authors: Hélène
authors: H
authors: Pendeville
authors: Ana Rita
authors: AR
authors: Bezerra
authors: Gabriela R
authors: GR
authors: Moura
authors: Ingrid
authors: I
authors: Struman
authors: Manuel A S
authors: MA
authors: Santos
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D000818:Animals; D015536:Down-Regulation; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D039943:Neuropilin-2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D035683:MicroRNAs; D039943:Neuropilin-2