摘要
Nodal, a member of the transforming growth factor β （TGF-β） superfamily, has been shown to play a role in mesendoderm induction and gastrulation movements. The activity of Nodal signaling can be modulated by microRNAs （miRNAs） as previously reported, but little is known about which miRNAs are regulated by Nodal during gastrulation. In the present study, we found that the expression of mir206, one of the most abundant miRNAs during zebrafish early embryo development, is regulated by Nodal signaling. Abrogation of Nodal signal activity results in defective convergence and extension （CE） movements, and these cell migration defects can be rescued by supplying an excess of mir206, suggesting that mir206 acts downstream of Nodal signaling to regulate CE movements. Furthermore, in mir206 morphants, the expression of cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin is significantly increased, while the key transcriptional repressor of E-cadherin, snailla, is depressed. Our study uncovers a novel mechanism by which Nodal-regulated mir206 modulates gastrulation movements in connection with the Snail/E-cadherin pathway.
Nodal, a member of the transforming growth factor β （TGF-β） superfamily, has been shown to play a role in mesendoderm induction and gastrulation movements. The activity of Nodal signaling can be modulated by microRNAs （miRNAs） as previously reported, but little is known about which miRNAs are regulated by Nodal during gastrulation. In the present study, we found that the expression of mir206, one of the most abundant miRNAs during zebrafish early embryo development, is regulated by Nodal signaling. Abrogation of Nodal signal activity results in defective convergence and extension （CE） movements, and these cell migration defects can be rescued by supplying an excess of mir206, suggesting that mir206 acts downstream of Nodal signaling to regulate CE movements. Furthermore, in mir206 morphants, the expression of cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin is significantly increased, while the key transcriptional repressor of E-cadherin, snailla, is depressed. Our study uncovers a novel mechanism by which Nodal-regulated mir206 modulates gastrulation movements in connection with the Snail/E-cadherin pathway.
基金
supported by the grants from the Major Science Programs of China(Nos.2011CBA01101 and 2011CB943904)
the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.30971656 and 90919011)
