Singh Noopur, Srivastava Swati, Shasany Ajit K, Sharma Ashok
Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, P.O. CIMAP, Lucknow, 226015 (UP), India.
Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, P.O. CIMAP, Lucknow, 226015 (UP), India.
Comput Biol Chem. 2016 Oct;64:154-162. doi: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2016.06.004. Epub 2016 Jun 17.
The endogenous, small and non-coding functional microRNAs govern the regulatory system of gene expression and control the growth and development of the plants. Mentha spp. are well known herbs for its flavor, fragrance and medicinal properties. In the present study, we used a computational approach to identify miRNAs and their targets involved in different secondary metabolic pathways of Mentha spp. Additionally, phylogenetic and conservation analysis were also done for the predicted miRNAs. Eleven miRNAs families were identified from Mentha spp., out of which five miRNA families were reported for the first time from Lamiaceae. Overall, 130 distinct target transcripts were predicted for eight miRNAs families. All the predicted targets regulated by predicted miRNAs control the reproduction, signaling, stimulus response, developmental and different metabolic process. miRNA mediated gene regulatory network was also constructed on the basis of hybridized minimum free energy of identified miRNAs and their targets. The study revealed that the gene regulatory system of essential oil biosynthesis may be governed by miR156, miR414 and miR5021 in mint family. Furthermore, three miRNA candidates (miR156, miR5021, and miR5015b) were observed to be involved in trichome development also. This is the first in-silico study describing miRNAs and their role in the regulation of secondary metabolic pathways in Mentha spp.
内源性的、小的非编码功能性微小RNA调控着基因表达调控系统，并控制着植物的生长和发育。薄荷属植物是因其风味、香气和药用特性而闻名的草本植物。在本研究中，我们采用计算方法来鉴定参与薄荷属植物不同次生代谢途径的微小RNA及其靶标。此外，还对预测的微小RNA进行了系统发育和保守性分析。从薄荷属植物中鉴定出11个微小RNA家族，其中5个微小RNA家族是首次从唇形科报道。总体而言，为8个微小RNA家族预测了130个不同的靶转录本。预测的微小RNA调控的所有预测靶标控制着繁殖、信号传导、刺激反应、发育和不同的代谢过程。还基于鉴定出的微小RNA及其靶标的杂交最小自由能构建了微小RNA介导的基因调控网络。该研究表明，薄荷家族中精油生物合成的基因调控系统可能受miR156、miR414和miR5021调控。此外，还观察到三个微小RNA候选物（miR156、miR5021和miR5015b）也参与了毛状体的发育。这是第一项描述微小RNA及其在薄荷属植物次生代谢途径调控中作用的计算机模拟研究。
