RNA Binding Protein Vigilin Collaborates with miRNAs To Regulate Gene Expression for Caenorhabditis elegans Larval Development

摘要

Extensive studies have suggested that most miRNA functions are executed through complex miRNA-target interaction networks, and such networks function semiredundantly with other regulatory systems to shape gene expression dynamics for proper physiological functions. We found that knocking down [vgln-1][1] , which encodes a conserved RNA-binding protein associated with diverse functions, causes severe larval arrest at the early L1 stage in animals with compromised miRISC functions (an [ain-2][2]/GW182 mutant). Through an enhancer screen, we identified five specific miRNAs, and miRNA families, that act semiredundantly with [VGLN-1][1] to regulate larval development. By RIP-Seq analysis, we identified mRNAs that are directly bound by [VGLN-1][1], and highly enriched for miRNA binding sites, leading to a hypothesis that [VGLN-1][1] may share common targets with miRNAs to regulate gene expression dynamics for development. [1]: http://www.wormbase.org/db/get?name=WBGene00007463;class=Gene [2]: http://www.wormbase.org/db/get?name=WBGene00015007;class=Gene