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The miR‐379/miR‐410 cluster at the imprinted Dlk1‐Dio3 domain controls neonatal metabolic adaptation
Author(s) -
Labialle Stéphane,
Marty Virginie,
BortolinCavaillé MarieLine,
HoareauOsman Magali,
Pradère JeanPhilippe,
Valet Philippe,
Martin Pascal GP,
Cavaillé Jérôme
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.15252/embj.201387038
Subject(s) - biology , genomic imprinting , microrna , gene , genetics , locus (genetics) , allele , imprinting (psychology) , heterozygote advantage , gene expression , dna methylation
In mammals, birth entails complex metabolic adjustments essential for neonatal survival. Using a mouse knockout model, we identify crucial biological roles for the miR‐379/miR‐410 cluster within the imprinted Dlk1‐Dio3 region during this metabolic transition. The miR‐379/miR‐410 locus, also named C14MC in humans, is the largest known placental mammal‐specific mi RNA cluster, whose 39 mi RNA genes are expressed only from the maternal allele. We found that heterozygote pups with a maternal—but not paternal—deletion of the mi RNA cluster display partially penetrant neonatal lethality with defects in the maintenance of energy homeostasis. This maladaptive metabolic response is caused, at least in part, by profound changes in the activation of the neonatal hepatic gene expression program, pointing to as yet unidentified regulatory pathways that govern this crucial metabolic transition in the newborn's liver. Not only does our study highlight the physiological importance of mi RNA genes that recently evolved in placental mammal lineages but it also unveils additional layers of RNA ‐mediated gene regulation at the Dlk1‐Dio3 domain that impose parent‐of‐origin effects on metabolic control at birth and have likely contributed to mammal evolution.