title: MicroRNA-21a-5p Functions on the Regulation of Melanogenesis by Targeting Sox5 in Mouse Skin Melanocytes.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in regulating almost all biological processes. miRNAs bind to the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of mRNAs by sequence matching. In a previous study, we demonstrated that miR-21 was differently expressed in alpaca skin with different hair color. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms for miR-21 to regulate the coat color are not yet completely understood. In this study, we transfected miR-21a-5p into mouse melanocytes and demonstrated its function on melanogenesis of miR-21a-5p by targeting Sox5, which inhibits melanogenesis in mouse melanocytes. The results suggested that miR-21a-5p targeted Sox5 gene based on the binding site in 3' UTR of Sox5 and overexpression of miR-21a-5p significantly down-regulated Sox5 mRNA and protein expression. Meanwhile, mRNA and protein expression of microphthalmia transcription factor (MITF) and Tyrosinase (TYR) were up-regulated, which subsequently make the melanin production in melanocytes increased. The results suggest that miR-21a-5p regulates melanogenesis via MITF by targeting Sox5.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, Shanxi, China. wangsh0402@163.com.
authors.forename: Pengchao
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Wujiang River Institute of Agriculture &amp; Forestry Economics, Tongren University, Tongren 554300, Guizhou, China. 84840293@163.com.
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, Shanxi, China. ruiwenfan@163.com.
authors.forename: Ruiwen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, Shanxi, China. chentianzhi15@163.com.
authors.forename: Tianzhi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, Shanxi, China. cs_dong@sxau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Changsheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D000818:Animals; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055755:SOXD Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; C531950:MIRN21 microRNA, mouse; D008543:Melanins; D035683:MicroRNAs; D051739:Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; C497235:Mitf protein, mouse; D055755:SOXD Transcription Factors; C089186:Sox5 protein, mouse; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase
keywords: Sox5; melanocytes; miR-21a-5p; transcriptional regulation