MicroRNA-92a is a circadian modulator of neuronal excitability in Drosophila

Mar 10, 2017Nature communications

MicroRNA-92a influences daily rhythms of nerve cell activity in fruit flies

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Abstract

At least six miRNAs show cycling expression levels within the pigment dispersing factor (PDF) cell-pacemaker neurons, with mir-92a peaking during the night.

  • Mir-92a is associated with the suppression of neuronal excitability in PDF neurons.
  • Calcium monitoring and imaging techniques reveal that mir-92a affects the dynamics of PDF projections.
  • Mir-92a levels in PDF cells respond to light pulses and influence phase shift responses.
  • Mir-92a suppresses the expression of , a gene homologous to human sir2 and sirt3.
  • Sirt2 RNA interference produces effects similar to mir-92a overexpression, indicating a functional relationship.

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Key numbers

37%
Decrease in Axonal Crossings
Overexpression of mir-92a leads to reduced axonal crossings at ZT2.
17%
Increase in Sleep Duration
mir-92a knockdown in PDF cells results in decreased sleep duration.
24%
Increase in Axonal Crossings
Knockdown of mir-92a leads to increased axonal crossings at ZT14.

Full Text

What this is

  • This research investigates the role of (mir-92a) in regulating neuronal excitability in Drosophila.
  • It identifies mir-92a as a circadian modulator with expression levels peaking at night.
  • The study demonstrates that mir-92a suppresses neuronal excitability by targeting the sirtuin gene , affecting sleep and phase shift responses.

Essence

  • modulates neuronal excitability in Drosophila, peaking at night and suppressing excitability through targeting . This regulation influences sleep duration and phase shifts.

Key takeaways

  • levels peak at night, suggesting a role in circadian regulation of neuronal activity. This cycling is controlled by the core molecular clock and light exposure.
  • Overexpression of mir-92a leads to a 37% decrease in axonal crossings during the day, indicating reduced neuronal excitability. Conversely, knockdown increases crossings by 24% at night.
  • Manipulating mir-92a levels affects sleep duration significantly, with overexpression increasing sleep and knockdown reducing it, indicating its broader role beyond PDF cells.

Caveats

  • The study's reliance on specific genetic backgrounds may limit the generalizability of findings. Additionally, the impact of mir-92a on other neuronal types remains unclear.

Definitions

  • microRNA-92a (mir-92a): A small non-coding RNA that regulates gene expression post-transcriptionally, influencing various biological processes, including neuronal excitability.
  • sirt2: A member of the sirtuin family of proteins, involved in deacetylation processes that regulate cellular metabolism and neuronal excitability.

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