MiRNA suppression of a Notch repressor directs non-neuronal fate in Drosophila mechanosensory organs.

ABSTRACT: Although there is abundant evidence that individual microRNA (miRNA) loci repress large cohorts of targets, large-scale knockout studies suggest that most miRNAs are phenotypically dispensable. Here, we identify a rare case of developmental cell specification that is highly dependent on miRNA control of an individual target. We observe that binary cell fate choice in the Drosophila melanogaster peripheral sensory organ lineage is controlled by the non-neuronally expressed mir-279/996 cluster, with a majority of notum sensory organs exhibiting transformation of sheath cells into ectopic neurons. The mir-279/996 defect phenocopies Notch loss of function during the sheath-neuron cell fate decision, suggesting the miRNAs facilitate Notch signaling. Consistent with this, mir-279/996 knockouts a

SUBMITTER: Kavaler J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5800810 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature