Oncogenic cooperation between Yorkie and the conserved microRNA miR-8 in the wing disc of Drosophila
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Tissue growth has to be carefully controlled to generate well-functioning organs. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that modulate the activity of target genes and play a pivotal role in animal development. Understanding the functions of microRNAs in development requires the identification of their target genes. Here, we find that miR-8, a conserved microRNA in the miR-200 family, controls tissue growth and homeostasis in the Drosophila wing imaginal disc. Upregulation of miR-8 causes the repression of Yorkie, the effector of the Hippo pathway in Drosophila, and reduces tissue size. Remarkably, co-expression of Yorkie and miR-8 causes the formation of neoplastic tumors. We show that upregulation of miR-8 represses the growth inhibitor brinker, and depletion of brinker cooperates with Yorkie in the formation of neoplastic tumors. Hence, miR-8 modulates a positive growth regulator, Yorkie, and a negative growth regulator, brinker. Deregulation of this network can result in the loss of tissue homeostasis and the formation of tumors.
Original language | English |
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Article number | dev153817 |
Journal | Development (Cambridge) |
Volume | 145 |
Issue number | 13 |
ISSN | 0950-1991 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2018 |
- Brinker, Cancer, Drosophila, Hippo pathway, MicroRNA, miR-8
Research areas
ID: 201428364