miR-206 is required for changes in cell adhesion that drive muscle cell morphogenesis in Xenopus laevis

Developmental biology

Hernando Martínez Vergara^1¹ 

[1] Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA^1

关键词: MiR-206;    Somite;    Muscle;    Morphogenesis;    β-dystroglycan;    Xenopus laevis;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.03.021

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Academic Press

【 摘 要 】

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are highly conserved small non-coding RNA molecules that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression in multicellular organisms. Within the set of muscle-specific miRNAs, miR-206 expression is largely restricted to skeletal muscle and is found exclusively within the bony fish lineage. Although many studies have implicated miR-206 in muscle maintenance and disease, its role in skeletal muscle development remains largely unknown. Here, we examine the role of miR-206 during Xenopus laevis somitogenesis. In Xenopus laevis, miR-206 expression coincides with the onset of somitogenesis. We show that both knockdown and over-expression of miR-206 result in abnormal somite formation affecting muscle cell rotation, attachment, and elongation. In particular, our data suggests that miR-206 regulates changes in cell adhesion that affect the ability of newly formed somites to adhere to the notochord as well as to the intersomitic boundaries. Additionally, we show that β-dystroglycan and F-actin expression levels are significantly reduced, suggesting that knockdown of miR-206 levels affects cellular mechanics necessary for cell shape changes and attachments that are required for proper muscle formation.

【 授权许可】

CC BY