Role of microRNAs in Vascular Development

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-2015

Publisher

John Wiley & Sons

Abstract

microRNAs (miRNAs) interact in a complex way with many coding RNAs, noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) and proteins. Their expression, processing and functional activity, like that of coding genes, are tightly controlled in order to maintain homeostasis. Aberrant expression of miRNAs can contribute to various human disorders and developmental defects. The biogenesis of a miRNA is a stepwise process that includes (i) transcription, (ii) nuclear cropping, (iii) export to the cytoplasm, and (iv) cytoplasmic cropping. The RNase III enzyme Drosha is responsible for nuclear cropping, which transforms long primary miRNA transcripts (pri-miRNAs) into intermediate products known as precursor-miRNAs (or pre-miRNAs). To examine the role of miRNAs in vascular development and function, we have examined vertebrate animals downregulated in Drosha. Downregulation of Drosha in zebrafish results in angiogenesis defect, suggesting an essential role of miRNAs in vascular development and integrity.

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