Aim: We hypothesized that HuR RNA binding protein regulates MEF2C expression through association with MEF2C mRNA.
Introduction: MEF2C is earliest expressed member of the MADS-box super family during heart development. In the postnatal heart, decreased expression of MEF2C has been associated with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) heart disease. Hu proteins are known to regulate a wide range of gene expression by modulating mRNA's half-lives.
Methods: We use Human Fetal Cardiomyocyte cell line RL14. Cells are transfected with Superfect Transfection Reagent(Qiagen). And RNA Isolation performed by using RNeasy Plus Mini Kit. Real Time quantitative PCR (q-PCR) analysis performed using Fast SYBR Green Master Mix.
Results: Over expression of HuR in cardiomyocytes derived from primary human fetal ventricle increased MEF2C mRNA 47.3% (p=0.01). Knocking down of HuR by siRNA decreased MEF2C mRNA by 62% (p=0.01). RNA Immunoprecipitation showed HuR associated with MEF2C mRNA.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that RNA binding protein HuR associates with MEF2C mRNA in cardiomyocytes. And also HuR positively regulates MEF2C mRNA expression.