Plant polycistronic precursors containing non-homologous microRNAs target transcripts encoding functionally related proteins.

ABSTRACT:

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous single-stranded small RNAs that regulate the expression of specific mRNAs involved in diverse biological processes. In plants, miRNAs are generally encoded as a single species in independent transcriptional units, referred to as MIRNA genes, in contrast to animal miRNAs, which are frequently clustered.

Results

We performed a comparative genomic analysis in three model plants (rice, poplar and Arabidopsis) and characterized miRNA clusters containing two to eight miRNA species. These clusters usually encode miRNAs of the same family and certain share a common evolutionary origin across monocot and dicot lineages. In addition, we identified miRNA clusters harboring miRNAs with unrelated sequences that are usually not evolutionarily c

SUBMITTER: Merchan F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2812943 | biostudies-literature | 2009

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature