MicroRNA-450a-3p represses cell proliferation and regulates embryo development by regulating Bub1 expression in mouse

PLoS One. 2012;7(10):e47914. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0047914. Epub 2012 Oct 22.

Abstract

Bub1 is a critical component of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) and closely linked to cell proliferation and differentiation. We previously found that spontaneous abortion embryos contained a low level of Bub1 protein but normal mRNA level, while the knockdown of Bub1 leads to abnormal numerical chromosomes in embryonic cells. Here, we investigated the mechanism through which governs the post-transcriptional regulation of Bub1 protein expression level. We first conducted bioinformatics analysis and identified eight putative miRNAs that may target Bub1. Luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-450a-3p can directly regulate Bub1 by binding to the 3'-untranslated region of Bub1 mRNA. We found that the overexpression of miR-450a-3p in mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells down-regulated Bub1 protein level, repressed cell proliferation, increased apoptosis and restricted most cells in G1 phase of the cell cycle. Furthermore, when the fertilized eggs were microinjected with miR-450a-3p mimics, the cleavage of zygotes was effectively suppressed. Our results strongly suggest that an abnormally decreased Bub1 level regulated by miRNAs may be implicated in the pathogenesis of spontaneous miscarriage. Therefore, the blockade of miR-450a-3p may be explored as a novel therapeutic strategy for preventing spontaneous miscarriages.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Computational Biology
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • Embryonic Development / drug effects*
  • Embryonic Development / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Luciferases
  • M Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects
  • M Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / physiology
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs / pharmacology*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • MIRN450 microRNA, mouse
  • MicroRNAs
  • Luciferases
  • BUB1 protein, human
  • Bub1 protein, mouse
  • Bub1 spindle checkpoint protein
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grant 30872770 from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC30872770) Foundation, by Chongqing Science and Technology Commission (CSTC,2011BB5131), by the Ministry of Education Foundation of China (20060631012), and by grant 30371485 from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC 30371485). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.