miR-430a regulates the development of left-right asymmetry by targeting sqt in the teleost

microRNAs (miRNAs) are short, endogenous non-coding RNAs that contain approximately 18-22 nucleotides. miRNAs are involved in gene regulation by recognizing and binding the 3'UTR of target gene. In our previous data, miR-430 family showed significant differential expression modes through metamorphosis in Japanese flounder. It was speculated that miR-430a plays a key role in left-right patterning. We predicted the targets of miR-430a and gene ontology (GO) was performed. We speculated miR-430a is involved in the basal molecular function and organ development. In Japanese flounder, sqt as a target of miR-430a was enriched into heart development term. Sqt has been reported to participate in mesendoderm formation and organ development. Cardiac morphogenesis is the first asymmetric development process, which breaks left-right symmetry in bilateria. It was used as a marker to detect L-R asymmetric effects of miR-430a. Overexpression and suppression of miR-430a resulted in abnormal KV (Kupffer's vesicles) development and disordered in nodal-related expression with consequent cardiac laterality. Squint mRNA of Japanese flounder (Posqt) as a target of miR-430a was overexpressed and caused similar phenotype with miR-430a suppression group, such as longer cilia in KV and high range of clmc2 and spaw ectopic expression. Moreover, rescue experiments were performed and suggested that cardiac and KV defections, induced by overexpressing miR-430a, could be rescued by injecting Posqt mRNA. These results suggested that miR-430a regulates the development of left-right asymmetry by targeting sqt in the teleost.