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Identification of miRNAs and their target genes in developing maize ears by combined small RNA and degradome sequencing.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: In plants, microRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous ~22 nt RNAs that play important regulatory roles in many aspects of plant biology, including metabolism, hormone response, epigenetic control of transposable elements, and stress response. Extensive studies of miRNAs have been performed in model plants such as rice and Arabidopsis thaliana. In maize, most miRNAs and their target genes were analyzed and identified by clearly different treatments, such as response to low nitrate, salt and drought stress. However, little is known about miRNAs involved in maize ear development. The objective of this study is to identify conserved and novel miRNAs and their target genes by combined small RNA and degradome sequencing at four inflorescence developmental stages. RESULTS: We used deep-sequencing, miRNA microarray assays and computational methods to identify, profile, and describe conserved and non-conserved miRNAs at four ear developmental stages, which resulted in identification of 22 conserved and 21-maize-specific miRNA families together with their corresponding miRNA*. Comparison of miRNA expression in these developmental stages revealed 18 differentially expressed miRNA families. Finally, a total of 141 genes (251 transcripts) targeted by 102 small RNAs including 98 miRNAs and 4 ta-siRNAs were identified by genomic-scale high-throughput sequencing of miRNA cleaved mRNAs. Moreover, the differentially expressed miRNAs-mediated pathways that regulate the development of ears were discussed. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed 22 conserved miRNA families and discovered 26 novel miRNAs in maize. Moreover, we identified 141 target genes of known and new miRNAs and ta-siRNAs. Of these, 72 genes (117 transcripts) targeted by 62 differentially expressed miRNAs may attribute to the development of maize ears. Identification and characterization of these important classes of regulatory genes in maize may improve our understanding of molecular mechanisms controlling ear development.

SUBMITTER: Liu H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3901417 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Identification of miRNAs and their target genes in developing maize ears by combined small RNA and degradome sequencing.

Liu Hongjun H Qin Cheng C Chen Zhe Z Zuo Tao T Yang Xuerong X Zhou Huangkai H Xu Meng M Cao Shiliang S Shen Yaou Y Lin Haijian H He Xiujing X Zhang Yinchao Y Li Lujiang L Ding Haiping H Lübberstedt Thomas T Zhang Zhiming Z Pan Guangtang G

BMC genomics 20140114

<h4>Background</h4>In plants, microRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous ~22 nt RNAs that play important regulatory roles in many aspects of plant biology, including metabolism, hormone response, epigenetic control of transposable elements, and stress response. Extensive studies of miRNAs have been performed in model plants such as rice and Arabidopsis thaliana. In maize, most miRNAs and their target genes were analyzed and identified by clearly different treatments, such as response to low nitrate, salt ...[more]

PMID: 24422852

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Project description:In plants, MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a new class of endogenous small RNAs that play essential regulatory roles in plant growth, development and stress response. Extensive studies of miRNAs have been performed in model plants such as rice, Arabidopsis thaliana and other plants. However, the number of miRNAs discovered in maize is relatively low and little is known about miRNAs involved in the four stages during maize ear development. Here, we use deep-sequencing, miRNA microarray assays and computational methods to identify, proM-oM-,M-^Ale, and describe conserved and non-conserved miRNAs at four developmental stages. A total of 27 conserved miRNA families were identiM-oM-,M-^Aed in all four stages, In addition to known miRNAs, we also found 23 new maize-specific miRNAs together with their star strands. We have also shown that almost all of them originated from single genes. We have found that many known and new miRNAs showed temporally expression. Finally, a total of 251 transcripts (140 genes) targeted by 102 small RNAs including 98 miRNAs and 4 ta-siRNAs were identified by genomic-scale high-throughput sequencing of miRNA cleaved mRNAs.This study led to the confirmation of the authenticity of 27 conserved miRNA families and the discovery of 23 novel miRNAs in maize. In addition, we have identified 130 targets of known and new miRNAs and ta-siRNA using recently developed tools for the global identification of miRNA targets. Identification and characterization of this important class of regulatory genes in maize may improve our understanding of molecular mechanism controlling flower development. The seeds of maize inbred line B73 were first sterilized and germinated in an incubator, then grown in a controlled environment with 28M-BM-0C/21M-BM-0C (day/night) under a 16-h day/8-h night photoperiod with a relative humidity of 70%. Ear development can be divided into four stages: the growth point elongation phase, spikelet differentiation phase, the floret primordium differentiation phase and floret organ differentiation phase. Plant materials (ears) were collected as described previously. In brief, ears were manually collected at the four developmental stages according to the plant features (number of visible leaves, leaf age index, and number of unfolded and folded leaves) combined with microscopic observation.

Dataset Information

Identification of miRNAs and their target genes in developing maize ears by combined small RNA and degradome sequencing.

Publications

Identification of miRNAs and their target genes in developing maize ears by combined small RNA and degradome sequencing.

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