MiR-155 inhibits expression of the MEF2A protein to repress skeletal muscle differentiation.

ABSTRACT: microRNAs (miRNAs) are 21-23-nucleotide non-coding RNAs. It has become more and more evident that this class of small RNAs plays critical roles in the regulation of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. MEF2A is a member of the MEF2 (myogenic enhancer factor 2) family of transcription factors. Prior report showed that the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of the Mef2A gene mediated its repression; however, the molecular mechanism underlying this intriguing observation was unknown. Here, we report that MEF2A is repressed by miRNAs. We identify miR-155 as one of the primary miRNAs that significantly represses the expression of MEF2A. We show that knockdown of the Mef2A gene by siRNA impairs myoblast differentiation. Similarly, overexpression of miR-155 leads to the repression of e

SUBMITTER: Seok HY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3195620 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature