Abstract
Programmed cell death is important for the proper development of the retina, and microRNAs (miRNAs) may be critical for its regulation. Here, we report that miR-24a is expressed in the neural retina and is required for correct eye morphogenesis in Xenopus. Inhibition of miR-24a during development causes a reduction in eye size due to a significant increase in apoptosis in the retina, whereas overexpression of miR-24a is sufficient to prevent apoptosis. We show that miR-24a negatively regulates the proapoptotic factors caspase9 and apaf1, demonstrating a role for miRNAs in the regulation of apoptosis during normal development.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Apoptosis / drug effects
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Apoptosis / physiology*
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Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1 / metabolism
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Caspase 9 / metabolism
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Caspase Inhibitors
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Cell Differentiation
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Cell Proliferation
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Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
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Eye / cytology
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Eye / drug effects
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Eye / embryology
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Eye / metabolism
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
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Gene Knockdown Techniques
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Hydroxyurea / metabolism
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MicroRNAs / metabolism*
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Retina / cytology
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Retina / embryology*
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Retina / metabolism*
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Xenopus laevis / embryology
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Xenopus laevis / metabolism
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Xenopus laevis / physiology*
Substances
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Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1
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Caspase Inhibitors
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Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors
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MicroRNAs
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Caspase 9
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Hydroxyurea