microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level by specific binding to recognition elements in the 3 untranslated regions (UTRs) of target mRNAs. In zebrafish embryonic development, miRNAs coordinately interact with many target transcripts to fin-tune overall gene expression. However, their expression profiles and critical functions during early zebrafish development remain to be elucidated. In order to understand miRNA expression and function, I first characterized the temporal expression of all miRNAs during very early zebrafish embryonic development using high-throughput sequencing and identified 8 novel miRNAs. I also identified an unexpected abundance of piRNAs during early developmental. To analyze specific targets and understand the rationale for miRNA regulation, I focused on mRNA targets for miR-153 and miR-27. I show that miR-153 regulates snap25 during synaptic transmission and motor neuron development. In addition, I also show that miR-27 targets ptk2.2 to regulate pharyngeal arch morphogenesis.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VANDERBILT/oai:VANDERBILTETD:etd-06282013-182125 |
| Date | 02 July 2013 |
| Creators | Wei, Chunyao |
| Contributors | Lilianna Solnica-Krezel, Charles K. Singleton, Antonis Rokas, Wenbiao Chen, James G. Patton |
| Publisher | VANDERBILT |
| Source Sets | Vanderbilt University Theses |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.vanderbilt.edu/available/etd-06282013-182125/ |
| Rights | restrictone, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to Vanderbilt University or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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