Functional Role of the RNA-Binding Protein Rbm24a and Its Target in Microphthalmia.

Congenital eye defects represent a large class of disorders affecting roughly 21 million children worldwide. Microphthalmia and anophthalmia are relatively common congenital defects, with approximately 20% of human cases caused by mutations in Recently, we identified the RNA-binding motif protein 24a (Rbm24a) which binds to and regulates in zebrafish and mice. Here we show that morpholino knockdown of leads to microphthalmia and visual impairment. By utilizing sequential injections, we demonstrate that addition of exogenous RNA to -deplete embryos is sufficient to suppress morphological and visual defects. This research demonstrates a critical role for understanding the post-transcriptional regulation of genes needed for development.