miR-183/96 plays a pivotal regulatory role in mouse photoreceptor maturation and maintenance Article Swipe
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· 2017
· Open Access
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· DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1618757114
· OA: W2619465005
Significance The polycistronic miR-183/96/182 cluster is highly expressed in various types of terminally differentiating sensory neurons, including photoreceptors. Although miR-182 single-knockout mice do not exhibit significant retinal architecture alterations in photoreceptors, deletion of miR-183 and miR-96 gives rise to severe defects in cone maturation. Long-term follow-up analysis reveals that miR-183/96 ablation results in progressive photoreceptor degeneration. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that miR-183 and miR-96 directly regulate the expression of the taurine transporter Slc6a6. The expression levels of photoreceptor-specific genes change in accordance with the knockdown or overexpression of Slc6a6 in vivo. In both cases, the mouse scotopic electroretinography responses are compromised. Our findings reveal that the epigenetic regulation of miR-183/96 via Slc6a6 is essential for mouse photoreceptor formation and functionalization.
