A matter of timing: microRNA-controlled temporal identities in worms and flies - PubMed (original) (raw)

Comment

A matter of timing: microRNA-controlled temporal identities in worms and flies

Manfred Frasch. Genes Dev. 2008.

Abstract

The first microRNAs were identified in Caenorhabditis elegans based on their functions in the temporal regulation of stage-specific cell fate decisions. Until now, it was not known whether the so-called heterochronic genes that encode miRNAs are also involved in controlling developmental transitions in other organisms. New findings by Sokol et al. (this issue of Genes & Development, pp. 1591-1596) demonstrate that the Drosophila counterpart of a heterochronic miRNA gene from C. elegans, let-7, does indeed play a role in promoting stage-specific developmental events in neuromuscular tissues during the transition from larval to adult stages, thus pointing to a more widespread utilization of miRNAs in temporal regulation of animal development.

PubMed Disclaimer

Comment on

Drosophila let-7 microRNA is required for remodeling of the neuromusculature during metamorphosis.
Sokol NS, Xu P, Jan YN, Ambros V. Sokol NS, et al. Genes Dev. 2008 Jun 15;22(12):1591-6. doi: 10.1101/gad.1671708. Genes Dev. 2008. PMID: 18559475 Free PMC article.

References

1. Abbott A.L., Alvarez-Saavedra E., Miska E.A., Lau N.C., Bartel D.P., Horvitz H.R., Ambros V. The let-7 microRNA family members mir-48, mir-84, and mir-241 function together to regulate developmental timing in Caenorhabditis elegans. Dev. Cell. 2005;9:403–414. - PMC - PubMed
1. Abrahante J.E., Daul A.L., Li M., Volk M.L., Tennessen J.M., Miller E.A., Rougvie A.E. The Caenorhabditis elegans hunchback-like gene lin-57/hbl-1 controls developmental time and is regulated by microRNAs. Dev. Cell. 2003;4:625–637. - PubMed
1. Ambros V., Horvitz H.R. The lin-14 locus of Caenorhabditis elegans controls the time of expression of specific postembryonic developmental events. Genes & Dev. 1987;1:398–414. - PubMed
1. Antebi A. WormBook. 2006. Nuclear hormone receptors in C. elegans (January 03 2006)http://www.wormbook.org - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. Antebi A., Yeh W.H., Tait D., Hedgecock E.M., Riddle D.L. daf-12 encodes a nuclear receptor that regulates the dauer diapause and developmental age in C. elegans. Genes & Dev. 2000;14:1512–1527. - PMC - PubMed

A matter of timing: microRNA-controlled temporal identities in worms and flies - PubMed (original) (raw)