Research Article

miR-71b regulation of insulin/IGF-1 signaling during starvation in planarians

Published: October 05, 2015
Genet. Mol. Res. 14 (4) : 11905-11914 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4238/2015.October.5.4
Cite this Article:
Y.Y. Wu, J.M. Zhao, Q. Liu, Q. Guo, Z. Liu, X.X. Wang, C.Y. Wang, R.Y. Li, Y.Z. Zhang, S.T. Zhang (2015). miR-71b regulation of insulin/IGF-1 signaling during starvation in planarians. Genet. Mol. Res. 14(4): 11905-11914. https://doi.org/10.4238/2015.October.5.4
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Abstract

Planarians, which have a large population of stem cells called neoblasts, are molecularly tractable model systems used in the study of regeneration. However, planarians have strong resistance to hunger and have developed growth arrest strategies. For example, they can change their size and undergo growth regression during starvation periods. The results of the current study show that the microRNA, miR-71b, and the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway have important functions in the development of starvation-induced planarians. We demonstrate tissue-specific expression of miR-71b using in situ hybridization. By employing real-time polymerase chain reaction, we provide evidence that miR-71b is upregulated in starvation-induced planarians. Furthermore, we validate and verify the target genes of miR-71b.

Planarians, which have a large population of stem cells called neoblasts, are molecularly tractable model systems used in the study of regeneration. However, planarians have strong resistance to hunger and have developed growth arrest strategies. For example, they can change their size and undergo growth regression during starvation periods. The results of the current study show that the microRNA, miR-71b, and the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway have important functions in the development of starvation-induced planarians. We demonstrate tissue-specific expression of miR-71b using in situ hybridization. By employing real-time polymerase chain reaction, we provide evidence that miR-71b is upregulated in starvation-induced planarians. Furthermore, we validate and verify the target genes of miR-71b.