at the middle stage of regeneration. When we observed the expression of tail marker genes such as DjAbd-Ba, their expression could be detected at the early stage of regeneration, but was not increased after the middle stage of regeneration in DjlimA(RNAi). Based on these findings combined with histological observations, we concluded that DjlimA may be required for maintaining the proper morphol...

lyzes the maturation of micro RNAs (miRNA) by endoribonucleolytic cleavage of double stranded RNA precursors. This process is central to the process of RNA interference. Gene trap experiments abolishing the function of Dicer1 and therefore the production of miRNAs result in embryonic lethality [Bernstein, E. etal., 2003. Dicer is essential for mouse development. Nature Genetics 35, 215–217]. Th...

Various examples of cellular identity changes have been reported, resulting in the reprogramming of committed cells (transdetermination), or differentiated cells (transdifferentiation). Recently, it has been shown that a differentiated cell can revert to pluripotent state upon expression of defined factors. However, the mechanism(s) involved in cellular plasticity are poorly understood. Underst...