Select microRNAs are essential for early development in the sea urchin.

ABSTRACT: microRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that mediate post-transcriptional gene regulation and have emerged as essential regulators of many developmental events. The transcriptional network during early embryogenesis of the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, is well described and would serve as an excellent model to test functional contributions of miRNAs in embryogenesis. We examined the loss of function phenotypes of the major components of the miRNA biogenesis pathway. Inhibition of de novo synthesis of Drosha and Dicer in the embryo led to consistent developmental defects, a failure to gastrulate, and embryonic lethality, including changes in the steady state levels of transcription factors and signaling molecules involved in germ layer specification. We annotated and

ORGANISM(S): Strongylocentrotus purpuratus

SUBMITTER: Jonas Maaskola 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-35876 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress