MicroRNA-19b regulates proliferation and differentiation along the medial-lateral axis of the developing avian pallium

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe avian and mammalian brain contain similar cell types, but are organized quite differently. The dynamic changes in proliferation and differentiation of neuronal progenitors along the medial-lateral axis are among the unique features that distinguish the avian pallium from its mammalian counterpart. In this study carried out in the developing chick pallium, the analysis of expression pattern as well as functional studies of a microRNA, miR-19b, reveal that it is a potential regulator of the dynamics of neuronal progenitor proliferation and neuronal differentiation in this context. Moreover, miR-19b was also found to be sufficient for regulating the expression of a lateral pallial marker, Mef2c. In summary, miR-19b is likely to be a pivotal player that shapes the developing avian pallium.