Background
A recessive mutation "c" in the Mexican axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum,
Conclusions
This new form, microRNA-499c, plays an important role in cardiac development.
Results
We randomly cloned RNAs from fetal human heart. RNA from clone #291 promoted myofibril formation and induced heart development of mutant axolotls in organ culture. This RNA induced expression of cardiac markers in mutant hearts: tropomyosin, troponin and α-syntrophin. This cloned RNA matches in partial sequence alignment to human microRNA-499a and b, although it differs in length. We have concluded that this cloned RNA is unique in its length, but is still related to the microRNA-499 family. We have named this unique RNA, microRNA-499c. Thus, we will refer to this RNA derived from clone #291 as microRNA-499c throughout the rest of the paper. Conclusions: This new form, microRNA-499c, plays an important role in cardiac development.