@article{7cabb7e6c5e14f6aa852556d363755dc,
title = "MiR-218 is essential to establish motor neuron fate as a downstream effector of Isl1-Lhx3",
abstract = "While microRNAs have emerged as an important component of gene regulatory networks, it remains unclear how microRNAs collaborate with transcription factors in the gene networks that determines neuronal cell fate. Here we show that in the developing spinal cord, the expression of miR-218 is directly upregulated by the Isl1-Lhx3 complex, which drives motor neuron fate. Inhibition of miR-218 suppresses the generation of motor neurons in both chick neural tube and mouse embryonic stem cells, suggesting that miR-218 plays a crucial role in motor neuron differentiation. Results from unbiased RISC-trap screens, in vivo reporter assays and overexpression studies indicated that miR-218 directly represses transcripts that promote developmental programs for interneurons. In addition, we found that miR-218 activity is required for Isl1-Lhx3 to effectively induce motor neurons and suppress interneuron fates. Together our results reveal an essential role of miR-218 as a downstream effector of the Isl1-Lhx3 complex in establishing motor neuron identity.",
author = "Thiebes, {Karen P.} and Heejin Nam and Cambronne, {Xiaolu A.} and Rongkun Shen and Glasgow, {Stacey M.} and Cho, {Hyong Ho} and Kwon, {Ji Sun} and Goodman, {Richard H.} and Lee, {Jae W.} and Seunghee Lee and Lee, {Soo Kyung}",
note = "Funding Information: We are grateful to Drs Fred H. Gage and Xinwei Cao for the miRNA sensor vector; to Dr Greg Scott for creating the ImageJ GFP/RFP pixel intensity analysis script; to Younjung Park for the excellent technical support; to Lee laboratory members for discussions. This research was supported by grants from NIH/NINDS (R01 NS054941), the March of Dimes Foundation and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation (to S.-K.L.), NIH/NIDDK (R01 DK064678) (to J.W.L.), NIH/NIDDK (R01 DK103661, to S.-K.L. and J.W.L.), NIH/ NIMH (R01 MH094416, to R.H.G.) and National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grants for the Bio & Medical Technology Development Program (2012M3A9C6050508) funded by the Korean government (MEST) and for the Global Core Research Center (GCRC) funded by the Korean government (MSIP)(2011-0030001) and Aspiring Researcher Program of Seoul National University in 2014 (to S.L.). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015, Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.",
year = "2015",
month = jul,
day = "27",
doi = "10.1038/ncomms8718",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "6",
journal = "Nature communications",
issn = "2041-1723",
publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",
}