MiR-124 synergism with ELAVL3 enhances target gene expression to promote neuronal maturity [TD_RNAseq]

Neuron-enriched microRNAs (miRNAs), miR-9/9* and miR-124 (miR-9/9*-124), direct cell fate switching of human fibroblasts to neurons when ectopically expressed by repressing anti-neurogenic genes. How these miRNAs function after the onset of the transcriptome switch to a neuronal fate remains unclear. Here, we identified direct targets of miRNAs by Argonaute (AGO) HITS-CLIP as reprogramming cells activate the neuronal program and reveal the role of miR-124 that directly promotes the expression of its target genes associated with neuronal development and function. Overall design: Adult dermal fibroblasts were converted using miR-9/9*-124 into neurons (Yoo et al., 2011; Richner et al., 2015; Abernathy et al., 2017). To examine the importance of miR-124, miR-124 activity was knockdown using either tough decoy control, TuD-miR-NS, or tough decoy against miR-124, TuD-miR-124. Triplicates for each condition was collect at day 21 and total RNA was collect for RNAseq.