Plant 22-nt siRNAs mediate translational repression and stress adaptation
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ABSTRACT: Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are critical for proper development and immunity in eukaryotes1. Plants produce siRNAs with lengths of 21-, 22-, or 24- nucleotides (nt), wherein the 21- and 24-nt siRNAs mediate mRNA cleavage and DNA methylation2,3, respectively. However, the biological functions of 22-nt siRNAs remain elusive. Here we report the identification and characterization of a group of endogenous 22-nt siRNAs generated from the action of DICER-LIKE 2 (DCL2). When cytoplasmic RNA decay and DCL4 are deficient, the massive accumulation of 22-nt siRNAs causes pleiotropic growth disorders, including severe dwarfism, meristem defect, and pigmentation. Notably, two genes that encode nitrate reductases, NIA1 and NIA2, produce nearly half of the total of 22-nt siRNAs. Production of 22-nt siRNA triggers explosive self-amplification that leads to a small RNA storm, and induces dramatic translational repression both gene-specifically and globally. 22-nt siRNAs are also found to preferentially accumulate upon nitrogen deficiency, which acts to restrain plant growth and promote stress responses. Thus, our research uncovers the unique properties of 22-nt siRNAs, a previously unexplored class of plant siRNAs, and highlights the length of small RNA as a major functional determinant.
ORGANISM(S): Arabidopsis thaliana
PROVIDER: GSE135959 | GEO | 2020/02/14
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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