RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The miR-124 family of microRNAs is crucial for regeneration of the brain and visual system in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea 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.