PUBLICATION

MicroRNAs Regulate Brain Morphogenesis in Zebrafish

Authors
Giraldez, A.J., Cinalli, R.M., Glasner, M.E., Enright, A.J., Thomson, M.J., Baskerville, S., Hammond, S.M., Bartel, D.P., and Schier, A.F.
ID
ZDB-PUB-050322-2
Date
2005
Source
Science (New York, N.Y.)   308(5723): 833-838 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Giraldez, Antonio, Schier, Alexander
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Body Patterning
  • Brain/embryology*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Central Nervous System/embryology
  • Gastrula/physiology
  • Gene Silencing
  • Heart/embryology
  • MicroRNAs/genetics
  • MicroRNAs/metabolism
  • MicroRNAs/physiology*
  • Morphogenesis*
  • Mutation
  • Neurons/cytology
  • Phenotype
  • RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional
  • RNA, Double-Stranded/metabolism
  • Ribonuclease III/genetics
  • Ribonuclease III/metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Somites/cytology
  • Somites/physiology
  • Spinal Cord/embryology
  • Zebrafish/embryology*
  • Zebrafish/genetics*
PubMed
15774722 Full text @ Science
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. To block all miRNA formation in zebrafish, we generated maternal-zygotic dicer (MZdicer) mutants that disrupt the Dicer RNaseIII and dsRNA-binding domains. Mutant embryos do not process precursor-miRNAs into mature miRNAs, but injection of pre-processed miRNAs restores gene silencing, indicating that the disrupted domains are dispensable for later steps in silencing. MZdicer mutants undergo axis formation and differentiate multiple cell types but display abnormal morphogenesis during gastrulation, brain formation, somitogenesis and heart development. Injection of miR-430 miRNAs rescues the brain defects in MZdicer mutants, revealing essential roles for miRNAs during morphogenesis.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping