PUBLICATION

miR-145 directs intestinal maturation in zebrafish

Authors
Zeng, L., Carter, A.D., and Childs, S.J.
ID
ZDB-PUB-091023-21
Date
2009
Source
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America   106(42): 17793-17798 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Childs, Sarah J., Zeng, Lei
Keywords
GATA6, gut, microRNA, smooth muscle
MeSH Terms
  • 3' Untranslated Regions/genetics
  • 3' Untranslated Regions/physiology
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Binding Sites/genetics
  • GATA Transcription Factors/genetics
  • GATA Transcription Factors/metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics
  • Heart/embryology
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Intestinal Mucosa/embryology
  • Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism
  • Intestines/embryology*
  • Intestines/metabolism
  • MicroRNAs/antagonists & inhibitors
  • MicroRNAs/genetics*
  • MicroRNAs/metabolism
  • Muscle, Smooth/embryology
  • Muscle, Smooth/metabolism
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense/genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins/genetics
  • Zebrafish/embryology*
  • Zebrafish/genetics*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
PubMed
19805048 Full text @ Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
Abstract
The rapid specification and differentiation of the embryonic zebrafish gut is essential to provide contractility for the digestion of food. The role of microRNAs in modulating gut epithelial or smooth muscle differentiation is currently not known. Here we show that the microRNA miR-145 is strongly expressed in zebrafish gut smooth muscle and regulates its development. Modulation of miR-145 levels results in gut smooth muscle and epithelium maturation defects. Loss of miR-145 results in defects of smooth muscle function as measured by decreased nitric oxide production but also leads to increased expression of the embryonic smooth muscle markers sm22alpha-b, nm-mhc-b, and smoothelin. Defects in gut epithelial maturation are also present as observed by immature morphology and a complete loss of alkaline phosphatase expression. Loss or gain of miR-145 function phenocopies defects observed with altered gata6 expression and accordingly, we show that miR-145 directly represses gata6, and that gata6 is a major miR-145 target in vitro and in vivo. miR-145 therefore plays a critical role in promoting the maturation of both layers of the gut during development through regulation of gata6.
Genes / Markers
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping