MicroRNAs in plants

作者:Reinhart BJ; Weinstein EG; Rhoades MW; Bartel B*; Bartel DP
来源:Genes & Development, 2002, 16(13): 1616-1626.
DOI:10.1101/gad.1004402

摘要

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an extensive class of -22-nucleotide noncoding RNAs thought to regulate gene expression in metazoans. We find that miRNAs are also present in plants, indicating that this class of noncoding RNA arose early in eukaryotic evolution. In this paper 16 Arabidopsis miRNAs are described, many of which have differential expression patterns in development. Eight are absolutely conserved in the rice genome. The plant miRNA loci potentially encode stem-loop precursors similar to those processed by Dicer (a ribonuclease III) in animals. Mutation of an Arabidopsis Dicer homolog, CARPEL FACTORY, prevents the accumulation of miRNAs, showing that similar mechanisms direct miRNA processing in plants and animals. The previously described roles of CARPEL FACTORY in the development of Arabidopsis embryos, leaves, and floral meristems suggest that the miRNAs could play regulatory roles in the development of plants as well as animals.

  • 出版日期2002-7-1