Braveheart, a Long Noncoding RNA Required for Cardiovascular Lineage Commitment

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are often expressed in a development-specific manner, yet little is known about their roles in lineage commitment. Here, we identified Braveheart (Bvht), a heart-associated lncRNA in mouse. Using multiple embryonic stem cell (ESC) differentiation strategies, we show that Bvht is required for progression of nascent mesoderm toward a cardiac fate. We find that Bvht is necessary for activation of a core cardiovascular gene network and functions upstream of mesoderm posterior 1 (MesP1), a master regulator of a common multipotent cardiovascular progenitor. We also show that Bvht interacts with SUZ12, a component of polycomb-repressive complex 2 (PRC2), during cardiomyocyte differentiation, suggesting that Bvht mediates epigenetic regulation of cardiac commitment. Finally, we demonstrate a role for Bvht in maintaining cardiac fate in neonatal cardiomyocytes. Together, our work provides evidence for a long noncoding RNA with critical roles in the establishment of the cardiovascular lineage during mammalian development.
Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation (DRG 2032-09)
Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation (DFS 04-12)
European Molecular Biology Organization (Long-term Fellowship)
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Bench to Bassinet Program (U01HL098179)
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Bench to Bassinet Program (U01HL098188)
Smith Family Foundation
Pew Charitable Trusts. Program in the Biomedical Sciences