MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are implicated in both tissue differentiation and maintenance of tissue identity. In most cases, however, the mechanisms underlying their regulation are not known. One brainspecific miRNA, miR-124a, decreases the levels of hundreds of nonneuronal transcripts, such that its introduction into HeLa cells promotes a neuronal-like mRNA profile. The transcriptional repressor, RE1 silencing transcription factor (REST), has a reciprocal activity, inhibiting the expression of neuronal genes in nonneuronal cells. Here, we show that REST regulates the expression of a family of miRNAs, including brain-specific miR-124a. In nonneuronal cells and neural progenitors, REST inhibits miR-124a expression, allowing the persistence of nonneuronal transcripts. As progenitors differentiate into mature neurons, REST leaves miR-124a gene loci, and nonneuronal transcripts are degraded selectively. Thus, the combined transcriptional and posttranscriptional consequences of REST action maximize the contrast between neuronal and nonneuronal cell phenotypes.noncoding RNA ͉ repression ͉ neuronal phenotype

The repressor element 1 (RE1) silencing transcription factor (REST) helps preserve the identity of nervous tissue by silencing neuronal genes in non-neural tissues. Moreover, in an epithelial model of tumorigenesis, loss of REST function is associated with loss of adhesion, suggesting the aberrant expression of REST-controlled genes encoding this property. To date, no adhesion molecules under REST control have been identified. Here, we used serial analysis of chromatin occupancy to perform genome-wide identification of REST-occupied target sequences (RE1 sites) in a kidney cell line. We discovered novel REST-binding motifs and found that the number of RE1 sites far exceeded previous estimates. A large family of targets encoding adhesion proteins was identified, as were genes encoding signature proteins of neuroendocrine tumors. Unexpectedly, genes considered exclusively non-neuronal also contained an RE1 motif and were expressed in neurons. This supports the model that REST binding is a critical determinant of neuronal phenotype.

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