Antisense-mediated depletion reveals essential and specific functions of microRNAs in Drosophila development Journal Article
| Authors: | Leaman, D.; Po, Y. C.; Fak, J.; Yalcin, A.; Pearce, M.; Unnerstall, U.; Marks, D. S.; Sander, C.; Tuschl, T.; Gaul, U. |
| Article Title: | Antisense-mediated depletion reveals essential and specific functions of microRNAs in Drosophila development |
| Abstract: | MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that control gene function posttranscriptionally through mRNA degradation or translational inhibition. Much has been learned about the processing and mechanism of action of microRNAs, but little is known about their biological function. Here, we demonstrate that injection of 2′O-methyl antisense oligoribonucleotides into early Drosophila embryos leads to specific and efficient depletion of microRNAs and thus permits systematic loss-of-function analysis in vivo. Twenty-five of the forty-six embryonically expressed microRNAs show readily discernible defects; pleiotropy is moderate and family members display similar yet distinct phenotypes. Processes under microRNA regulation include cellularization and patterning in the blastoderm, morphogenesis, and cell survival. The largest microRNA family in Drosophila (miR-2/6/11/13/308) is required for suppressing embryonic apoptosis; this is achieved by differential posttranscriptional repression of the proapoptotic factors hid, grim, reaper, and sickle. Our findings demonstrate that microRNAs act as specific and essential regulators in a wide range of developmental processes. Copyright ©2005 by Elsevier Inc. |
| Keywords: | functional assessment; nonhuman; phenotype; cytology; animals; cell survival; apoptosis; microrna; gene expression; embryo; down-regulation; drosophila; gene function; morphogenesis; genetic transcription; embryo, nonmammalian; gene expression regulation, developmental; drosophila melanogaster; micrornas; repressor proteins; drosophila proteins; neuropeptides; body patterning; pleiotropy; embryonic development; oligodeoxyribonucleotides, antisense; family; rna processing, post-transcriptional; insect development; antisense oligonucleotide; blastoderm |
| Journal Title: | Cell |
| Volume: | 121 |
| Issue: | 7 |
| ISSN: | 0092-8674 |
| Publisher: | Cell Press |
| Date Published: | 2005-07-01 |
| Start Page: | 1097 |
| End Page: | 1108 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.cell.2005.04.016 |
| PUBMED: | 15989958 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 142" - "Export Date: 24 October 2012" - "CODEN: CELLB" - "Source: Scopus" |
