Li Tian, Ma Lin, Geng Yuke, Hao Chenyang, Chen Xinhong, Zhang Xueyong
Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Germplasm Enhancement, Ministry of Agriculture / Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering for Plant Breeding, College of Agronomy, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
PLoS One. 2015 Oct 1;10(10):e0139658. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139658. eCollection 2015.
Plant microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to play critical roles in plant development. In this study, we employed small RNA combined with degradome sequencing to survey development-related miRNAs and their validated targets during wheat grain development. A total of 186 known miRNAs and 37 novel miRNAs were identified in four small RNA libraries. Moreover, a miRNA-like long hairpin locus was first identified to produce 21~22-nt phased siRNAs that act in trans to cleave target mRNAs. A comparison of the miRNAomes revealed that 55 miRNA families were differentially expressed during the grain development. Predicted and validated targets of these development-related miRNAs are involved in different cellular responses and metabolic processes including cell proliferation, auxin signaling, nutrient metabolism and gene expression. This study provides insight into the complex roles of miRNAs and their targets in regulating wheat grain development.
植物微小RNA（miRNA）已被证明在植物发育中起关键作用。在本研究中，我们采用小RNA与降解组测序相结合的方法，来研究小麦籽粒发育过程中与发育相关的miRNA及其经过验证的靶标。在四个小RNA文库中总共鉴定出186个已知miRNA和37个新miRNA。此外，首次鉴定出一个类似miRNA的长发夹位点，其可产生21至22个核苷酸的相位性小干扰RNA（phased siRNA），这些小干扰RNA可反式作用切割靶标mRNA。对miRNA组的比较显示，在籽粒发育过程中有55个miRNA家族存在差异表达。这些与发育相关的miRNA的预测靶标和经过验证的靶标参与了不同的细胞反应和代谢过程，包括细胞增殖、生长素信号传导、营养代谢和基因表达。本研究为深入了解miRNA及其靶标在调控小麦籽粒发育中的复杂作用提供了依据。
