Neuron type-specific miRNA represses two broadly expressed genes to modulate an avoidance behavior in C. elegans.
Two broad gene classes are distinguished within multicellular organisms: cell type-specific genes, which confer particular cellular properties, and ubiquitous genes that support general cellular functions. However, certain so-called ubiquitous genes show functionally relevant cell type-specific repression. How such repression is achieved is poorly understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are repressors, many of which are expressed with high cell type specificity. Here we show that mir-791, expressed exclusively in the CO2-sensing neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans, represses two otherwise broadly expressed genes. This repression is necessary for normal neuronal function and behavior of the animals toward CO2miRNA-mediated repression of broadly transcribed genes is a previously unappreciated strategy for cellular specialization.
Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), 1030 Vienna, Austria.
Tanja
T
Drexel
Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), 1030 Vienna, Austria.
Katharina
K
Mahofsky
Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), 1030 Vienna, Austria.
Richard
R
Latham
Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), 1030 Vienna, Austria.
Manuel
M
Zimmer
Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), 1030 Vienna, Austria.
Luisa
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4018-7722
L
Cochella
D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; C000620111:MIRN791 microRNA, C elegans; D035683:MicroRNAs; D002245:Carbon Dioxide
C. elegans; carbon dioxide; cell identity; miRNAs
J Neurosci. 1985 Apr;5(4):956-64
3981252
Biochim Biophys Acta. 2012 Apr;1823(4):808-17
22245567
Nat Rev Genet. 2008 Nov;9(11):868-82
18927580
Genome Res. 2011 Jan;21(1):95-105
21088282
Nat Neurosci. 2008 Oct;11(10):1168-76
18806786
J Neurosci. 1999 Nov 1;19(21):9557-69
10531458
Science. 2005 Jul 8;309(5732):310-1
15919954
Genetics. 1974 May;77(1):71-94
4366476
Nature. 2003 Dec 18;426(6968):845-9
14685240
Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2014 Mar;48:92-6
24412345
Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2015 Apr;16(4):232-44
25785716
Nature. 2013 Jul 18;499(7458):295-300
23868258
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Dec 13;102(50):18017-22
16330759
Nature. 2011 Jan 6;469(7328):97-101
21085120
Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2009 Aug;19(4):354-61
19640697
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Jan 4;108(1):254-9
21173231
J Biol Chem. 2013 Dec 27;288(52):37071-81
24240097
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Jun 10;105(23):8038-43
18524955
Cell Mol Life Sci. 2014 Mar;71(5):831-45
24045706
Curr Pharm Des. 2008;14(7):603-14
18336305
Am J Hum Genet. 2007 Sep;81(3):467-74
17701893
J Clin Invest. 1999 Dec;104(11):1621-9
10587526
Neuron. 2009 Mar 26;61(6):865-79
19323996
Nature. 2015 Feb 26;518(7540):556-9
25517091
Curr Biol. 2001 Feb 6;11(3):171-6
11231151
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Jun 10;105(23):8044-9
18524954
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Mar 10;106(10):4024-9
19237558
PLoS One. 2009;4(3):e4625
19259264
Cell. 2005 Dec 16;123(6):1133-46
16337999
Dev Biol. 2010 Mar 15;339(2):230-9
20045679
Neuron. 2011 Mar 24;69(6):1099-113
21435556
Science. 2008 Feb 29;319(5867):1256-60
18309086
Nat Rev Genet. 2011 Nov 18;12(12):846-60
22094948
Cell. 2012 Dec 7;151(6):1229-42
23201143
Genes Dev. 2009 Mar 1;23(5):619-32
19240126