MiR-302/367 regulate neural progenitor proliferation, differentiation timing, and survival in neurulation.

ABSTRACT: How neural progenitor cell (NPC) behaviors are temporally controlled in early developing embryos remains undefined. The in vivo functions of microRNAs (miRNAs) in early mammalian development remain largely unknown. Mir-302/367 is a miRNA cluster that encodes miR-367 and four miR-302 members (miR302a-d). We show that miR-302b is highly expressed in early neuroepithelium and its expression decline as development progresses. We generated a mir-302/367 knockout mouse model and found that deletion of mir-302/367 results in an early embryonic lethality and open neural tube defect (NTD). NPCs exhibit enhanced proliferation, precocious differentiation, and decreased cell survival in mutant embryos. Furthermore, we identified Fgf15, Cyclin D1, and D2 as direct targets of miR-302 in NPCs in vivo, an

SUBMITTER: Yang SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4688151 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature