Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been widely demonstrated to play fundamental roles in gene regulation in most eukaryotes. To date, there has been no study describing the miRNA composition in genetically modified organisms (GMOs). In this study, small RNAs from dry seeds of two GM soybean lines and their parental cultivars were investigated using deep sequencing technology and bioinformatic approaches. As a result, several differentially expressed gma-miRNAs were found between the GM and non-GM soybeans. Meanwhile, more differentially expressed gma-miRNAs were identified between distantly relatednon-GM soybeans, indicating that the miRNA components of soybean seeds varied among different soybean lines, including the GM and non-GM soybeans, and the extent of difference might be related to their genetic relationship. Additionally, fourteen novel gma-miRNA candidates were predicted in soybean seeds including a potential bidirectionally transcribed miRNA family with two genomic loci (gma-miR-N1). Our findings firstly provided useful data for miRNA composition in edible GM crops and also provided valuable information for soybean miRNA research.
Highlights
MicroRNAs are a class of genome-encoded, single-stranded, hairpin precursorderived, small non-coding RNAs that can regulate gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels [1]
MicroRNAs have been a topic of intense interest in current molecular biology, and their biogenesis and functions have been thoroughly studied over the past decade
The purpose of this study was to identify the differentially expressed miRNAs in genetically modified (GM) soybean seeds using deep sequencing technology and to provide data that will be useful for the future research
Summary
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of genome-encoded, single-stranded, hairpin precursorderived, small non-coding RNAs that can regulate gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels [1]. Because of their fundamental roles and common features, miRNAs have attracted considerable attention and a great deal of research has been reported in this field in recent years. 35,828 mature miRNAs and 28,645 stem-loop precursors from 223 species including plants, animals, viruses, and even single-celled organisms have been identified and registered in miRBase (Release 21.0) [2]. PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0155896 May 23, 2016
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