The miR-143-adducin3 pathway is essential for cardiac chamber morphogenesis

Development. 2010 Jun;137(11):1887-96. doi: 10.1242/dev.050526.

Abstract

Discovering the genetic and cellular mechanisms that drive cardiac morphogenesis remains a fundamental goal, as three-dimensional architecture greatly impacts functional capacity. During development, accurately contoured chambers balloon from a primitive tube in a process characterized by regional changes in myocardial cell size and shape. How these localized changes are achieved remains elusive. Here, we show in zebrafish that microRNA-143 (miR-143) is required for chamber morphogenesis through direct repression of adducin3 (add3), which encodes an F-actin capping protein. Knockdown of miR-143 or disruption of the miR-143-add3 interaction inhibits ventricular cardiomyocyte F-actin remodeling, which blocks their normal growth and elongation and leads to ventricular collapse and decreased contractility. Using mosaic analyses, we find that miR-143 and add3 act cell-autonomously to control F-actin dynamics and cell morphology. As proper chamber emergence relies on precise control of cytoskeletal polymerization, Add3 represents an attractive target to be fine-tuned by both uniform signals, such as miR-143, and undiscovered localized signals. Together, our data uncover the miR-143-add3 genetic pathway as essential for cardiac chamber formation and function through active adjustment of myocardial cell morphology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Actins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Calmodulin-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Calmodulin-Binding Proteins / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Heart / embryology*
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / cytology
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / physiology
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense / genetics
  • Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
  • Zebrafish / embryology*
  • Zebrafish / genetics*
  • Zebrafish / physiology
  • Zebrafish Proteins / genetics*
  • Zebrafish Proteins / physiology

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Actins
  • Calmodulin-Binding Proteins
  • MIRN143 microRNA, zebrafish
  • MicroRNAs
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense
  • Zebrafish Proteins
  • adducin