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Describing a Transcription Factor Dependent Regulation of the MicroRNA Transcriptome
Published on: June 15, 2016
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Important cardiac transcription factor genes are accompanied by bidirectional long non-coding RNAs
Yutaro Hori1,2,3, Yoko Tanimoto4, Satoru Takahashi4,5
1Laboratory of Cell Growth and Differentiation, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, the University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan.
BMC Genomics
|December 28, 2018
Summary
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are crucial for mouse heart development. Bidirectional lncRNAs regulate neighboring cardiac transcription factors, and their disruption causes embryonic lethality, highlighting their essential role.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Mammalian heart development is sensitive to gene dosage, with transcription factors playing critical roles.
- Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as key regulators of gene expression at multiple levels.
- The specific roles of lncRNAs in heart development are not yet fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively identify lncRNAs involved in mouse heart development.
- To investigate the relationship between lncRNAs and cardiac transcription factors.
- To explore the functional significance of lncRNAs in heart development.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of lncRNA expression in embryonic and adult mouse hearts and brains.
- Identification of lncRNAs located near heart development genes.
- Analysis of lncRNA transcription from gene promoters.
- Functional analysis of a specific lncRNA through knockdown studies.
Main Results:
- Identified spliced lncRNAs expressed during mouse heart development.
- Found lncRNAs preferentially located near important cardiac development genes.
- Discovered that many cardiac transcription factor genes are adjacent to divergently transcribed lncRNAs.
- Demonstrated that a lncRNA divergently transcribed from Tbx5 is conserved and essential, with its knockdown causing embryonic lethality.
Conclusions:
- Spliced lncRNAs, especially bidirectional ones, are critical regulators of mouse heart development.
- These lncRNAs likely function by modulating the expression of neighboring transcription factor genes.
- The findings underscore the importance of lncRNAs in ensuring proper cardiac development.
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