MicroRNAs Establish Uniform Traits during the Architecture of Vertebrate Embryos

Publication date: 27 March 2017
Source:Developmental Cell, Volume 40, Issue 6
Author(s): Dionna M. Kasper, Albertomaria Moro, Emma Ristori, Anand Narayanan, Guillermina Hill-Teran, Elizabeth Fleming, Miguel Moreno-Mateos, Charles E. Vejnar, Jing Zhang, Donghoon Lee, Mengting Gu, Mark Gerstein, Antonio Giraldez, Stefania Nicoli
Proper functioning of an organism requires cells and tissues to behave in uniform, well-organized ways. How this optimum of phenotypes is achieved during the development of vertebrates is unclear. Here, we carried out a multi-faceted and single-cell resolution screen of zebrafish embryonic blood vessels upon mutagenesis of single and multi-gene microRNA (miRNA) families. We found that embryos lacking particular miRNA-dependent signaling pathways develop a vascular trait similar to wild-type, but with a profound increase in phenotypic heterogeneity. Aberrant trait variance in miRNA mutant embryos uniquely sensitizes their vascular system to environmental perturbations. We discovered a previously unrecognized role for specific vertebrate miRNAs to protect tissue development against phenotypic variability. This discovery marks an important advance in our comprehension of how miRNAs function in the development of higher organisms.

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Teaser

Phenotypic diversity must be controlled to ensure balance between trait functionality and trait adaptability to changing environments. Kasper et al. establish that specific miRNAs limit phenotypic variation of the vascular system in a vertebrate embryo. Altered phenotypic variability resulting from miRNA loss sensitizes blood vessels to diverse environmental stresses.


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