Characterization of miRNAs on neural development and plasticity

MiRNAs通过抑制翻译或破坏mRNAs的稳定来调节蛋白质的合成。它们在神经系统发育和功能中的作用还不是很清楚。在这一年里，我们发现了几个调节海马区突触发育和功能的miRNAs。我们发现，这些miRNAs的表达在活跃的突触发生期间受到调控。我们还搜索了受miRNAs调控的靶mRNAs。我们已经确定了这些miRNAs的各自的mRNA靶标，并证明了靶mRNAs的表达水平与miRNA的表达水平呈负相关。此外，通过使用过表达和敲除方法，我们证明了miRNAs对突触发育的调节是通过其目标mRNAs介导的。这些发现表明miRNAs在突触的发育中起着重要的作用。

miRNAs regulate protein synthesis by suppressing translation or destabilizing mRNAs. Their role in the development and function of the nervous system is not well understood. In this year, we identified several miRNAs that regulates the development and function of synapses in the hippocampus. We found that expression of these miRNAs is regulated during the period of active synaptogenesis. We also searched for target mRNAs that are regulated by miRNAs. We have identified respective mRNA targets for these miRNAs and demonstrated that the expression level of target mRNAs inversely correlates with that of the miRNA. In addition, by using overexpression and knockdown approaches, we show that the regulation of miRNAs on synapse development is mediated by their target mRNAs. These findings indicate that miRNAs play important roles in the development of synapses.