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Updated: Apr 27, 2026

CRISPR Gene Editing Tool for MicroRNA Cluster Network Analysis
Published on: April 25, 2022
Two miRNA clusters, miR-34b/c and miR-449, are essential for normal brain development, motile ciliogenesis, and
Jingwen Wu1, Jianqiang Bao2, Minkyung Kim3
1Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, NV 89557;Department of Histology and Embryology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China;Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China; and.
Abstract:
Ablation of a single miRNA gene rarely leads to a discernable developmental phenotype in mice, in some cases because of compensatory effects by other functionally related miRNAs. Here, we report that simultaneous inactivation of two functionally related miRNA clusters (miR-34b/c and miR-449) encoding five miRNAs (miR-34b, miR-34c, miR-449a, miR-449b, and miR-449c) led to sexually dimorphic, partial perinatal lethality, growth retardation, and infertility. These developmental defects correlated with the dysregulation of ∼ 240 target genes, which are mainly involved in three major cellular functions, including cell-fate control, brain development and microtubule dynamics. Our data demonstrate an essential role of a miRNA family in brain development, motile ciliogenesis, and spermatogenesis.
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