Abstract
BackgroundRNA silencing is a process triggered by 21–24 small RNAs to repress gene expression. Many organisms including plants use RNA silencing to regulate development and physiology, and to maintain genome stability. Plants possess two classes of small RNAs: microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). The frameworks of miRNA and siRNA pathways have been established in the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis).ResultsHere we report the identification of putative genes that are required for the generation and function of miRNAs and siRNAs in soybean and sorghum, based on knowledge obtained from Arabidopsis. The gene families, including DCL, HEN1, SE, HYL1, HST, RDR, NRPD1, NRPD2/NRPE2, NRPE1, and AGO, were analyzed for gene structures, phylogenetic relationships, and protein motifs. The gene expression was validated using RNA-seq, expressed sequence tags (EST), and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR).ConclusionsThe identification of these components could provide not only insight into RNA silencing mechanism in soybean and sorghum but also basis for further investigation. All data are available at http://sysbio.unl.edu/.
Highlights
RNA silencing is a process triggered by 21–24 small RNAs to repress gene expression
DICER-LIKE proteins (DCL) genes in soybean and sorghum can be identified by searching genes whose proteins have these domains combined with a structure like DCLs in Arabidopsis
We found the presence of expressed sequence tags (EST) of these genes in different tissues of soybean and sorghum. (Please see the Additional file 2: Table S2.) To further confirm these RNA silencing components in sorghum and soybean are expressed, reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) was conducted
Summary
RNA silencing is a process triggered by 21–24 small RNAs to repress gene expression. Many organisms including plants use RNA silencing to regulate development and physiology, and to maintain genome stability. Plants possess two classes of small RNAs: microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). Small RNAs, in particular, 20- to 24-nucleotide (nt) in length, belong to two classes: microRNAs (miRNAs) and short interfering RNAs (siRNAs). MiRNAs are regulators of gene expression and affect many biological processes, such as development and physiology in plants and animals [1,2,3]. Their dysregulation often causes developmental defects and diseases of plants and animals. Ta-siRNAs act like miRNAs to regulate gene expression at
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
