RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The <em>miR-124</em> family of microRNAs is crucial for regeneration of the brain and visual system in the planarian <em>Schmidtea mediterranea</em>
JF Development
JO Development
FD The Company of Biologists Limited
SP 3211
OP 3223
DO 10.1242/dev.144758
VO 144
IS 18
A1 Sasidharan, Vidyanand
A1 Marepally, Srujan
A1 Elliott, Sarah A.
A1 Baid, Srishti
A1 Lakshmanan, Vairavan
A1 Nayyar, Nishtha
A1 Bansal, Dhiru
A1 Sánchez Alvarado, Alejandro
A1 Vemula, Praveen Kumar
A1 Palakodeti, Dasaradhi
YR 2017
UL http://dev.biologists.org/content/144/18/3211.abstract
AB Brain regeneration in planarians is mediated by precise spatiotemporal control of gene expression and is crucial for multiple aspects of neurogenesis. However, the mechanisms underpinning the gene regulation essential for brain regeneration are largely unknown. Here, we investigated the role of the miR-124 family of microRNAs in planarian brain regeneration. The miR-124 family (miR-124) is highly conserved in animals and regulates neurogenesis by facilitating neural differentiation, yet its role in neural wiring and brain organization is not known. We developed a novel method for delivering anti-miRs using liposomes for the functional knockdown of microRNAs. Smed-miR-124 knockdown revealed a key role for these microRNAs in neuronal organization during planarian brain regeneration. Our results also demonstrated an essential role for miR-124 in the generation of eye progenitors. Additionally, miR-124 regulates Smed-slit-1, which encodes an axon guidance protein, either by targeting slit-1 mRNA or, potentially, by modulating the canonical Notch pathway. Together, our results reveal a role for miR-124 in regulating the regeneration of a functional brain and visual system.