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miRNA 183 Knockout Alters Cone Subtype Distribution, Transcriptional Activity and ERG Signals in the Tetrachromatic
Rongfang Chen1, Gaohui Zhou1, Xiaodong Jiao1
1Ophthalmic Molecular Genetics Section, Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|March 14, 2026
Summary
MicroRNA 183 (miR-183) is crucial for zebrafish retinal development and function. Its absence impairs photoreceptor development and alters gene expression, affecting vision, especially for UV and blue light detection.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
Background:
- MicroRNA 183 (miR-183) is part of a cluster vital for gene expression regulation in sensory systems, particularly the retina.
- While its role in mammalian retinal gene expression is established, its function in other animal classes, like teleost fish, remains less understood.
- Zebrafish (Danio rerio) possess a complex visual system with diverse cone photoreceptors (red, green, blue, UV).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of miR-183 in zebrafish retinal development and function.
- To elucidate the impact of miR-183 deficiency on photoreceptor subtypes, gene expression, and visual signaling pathways.
Main Methods:
- Generation of miR-183 knockout (KO) zebrafish by deleting its seed sequence.
- RNAscope analysis to assess mature miR-183 and miR-182 expression in KO retinas.
- Quantification of photoreceptor subtypes and assessment of outer segment morphology.
- Analysis of phototransduction gene expression levels at different ages.
- Electroretinogram (ERG) recordings to evaluate visual function.
Main Results:
- KO zebrafish exhibited no mature miR-183 expression and reduced miR-182 levels.
- A decrease in UV and blue photoreceptor numbers and shortened/missing outer segments were observed.
- Differential alteration of phototransduction gene expression occurred at 3 and 12 months post-knockout.
- Photoreceptor-only ERG (PIII) signals showed reduced amplitudes for red and green photoreceptors.
- Reduced b-wave amplitudes indicated impaired activity of second-order retinal neurons across UV, blue, and red light stimulation.
Conclusions:
- miR-183 plays a significant facilitative role in retinal development and function in teleost fish.
- The absence of miR-183 negatively impacts photoreceptor development, particularly short-wavelength-sensitive subtypes (UV, blue).
- This study reveals a novel microRNA regulatory network influencing visual processing in zebrafish.
