Regulation mechanism of microRNA in plant response to abiotic stress and breeding

Mol Biol Rep. 2019 Feb;46(1):1447-1457. doi: 10.1007/s11033-018-4511-2. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

Abstract

microRNAs (miRNAs) in plants are a class of small RNAs consisting of approximately 21-24 nucleotides. The mature miRNA binds to the target mRNA through the formation of a miRNA-induced silencing complex (MIRISC), and cleaves or inhibits translation, thereby achieving negative regulation of the target gene. Based on miRNA plays an important role in regulating plant gene expression, studies on the prediction, identification, function and evolution of plant miRNAs have been carried out. In addition, many researches prove that miRNAs are also involved in many kinds of abiotic and biotic stress, under abiotic stress, plants can express some miRNA, and act on stress-related target genes, which can make plants adapt to stress in physiological response. In this review, the synthetic pathway and mechanism of plant miRNA are briefly described, and we discuss the biological functions and regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs responding to abiotic stresses including low temperature, salt, drought stress and breeding to lay the foundation for further exploring the mechanism of action of miRNAs in stress resistance of plant. And analyze its utilization prospects in plant stress resistance research.

Keywords: Abiotic stress; Function; Plant; microRNA.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Gene Regulatory Networks
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Plant Breeding*
  • Plants / genetics*
  • Stress, Physiological / genetics*

Substances

  • MicroRNAs