Multiple knockout mouse models reveal lincRNAs are required for life and brain development

• DOI: 10.7554/elife.01749
• Publication Date: 2013-11-26T14:29:10Z
• Authors: Martin Sauvageau; Loyal A Goff; Simona Lodato; Boyan Bonev; Abigail F Groff; Chiara Gerhardinger; Diana B Sanchez-G...; Ezgi Hacisuleyman; Eric Li; Matthew Spence; Stephen C Liapis; William Mallard; Michael Morse; Mavis R Swerdel; Michael F D’Eccle...; Jennifer C Moore; Venus Lai; Guochun Gong; George D Yancopoulos; David Frendewey; Manolis Kellis; Ronald P Hart; David M Valenzuela; Paola Arlotta; John L Rinn
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 570; Mouse; QH301-705.5; Science; 610; brain development; lethality; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; knockout mouse models; Animals; long noncoding RNAs; long noncoding RNA; Biology (General); Mice, Knockout; 0303 health sciences; Q; R; Brain; knockout mouse model; 3. Good health; Developmental Biology and Stem Cells; Medicine; RNA, Long Noncoding; developmental defect

Many studies are uncovering functional roles for long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), yet few have been tested for in vivo relevance through genetic ablation in animal models. To investigate the functional relevance of lncRNAs in various physiological conditions, we have developed a collection of 18 lncRNA knockout strains in which the locus is maintained transcriptionally active. Initial characterization revealed peri- and postnatal lethal phenotypes in three mutant strains (Fendrr, Peril, and Mdgt), the latter two exhibiting incomplete penetrance and growth defects in survivors. We also report growth defects for two additional mutant strains (linc–Brn1b and linc–Pint). Further analysis revealed defects in lung, gastrointestinal tract, and heart in Fendrr−/− neonates, whereas linc–Brn1b−/− mutants displayed distinct abnormalities in the generation of upper layer II–IV neurons in the neocortex. This study demonstrates that lncRNAs play critical roles in vivo and provides a framework and impetus for future larger-scale functional investigation into the roles of lncRNA molecules.