MicroRNA: noncoding but still coding, another example of self-catalysis.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known to interact with specific mRNAs to regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level by cleaving/repressing the translation process. MiRNA-mediated regulation of gene expression has become an interesting area of research on biological processes like growth, development, and stress responses. Studies suggest that some of the noncoding RNAs possess short open reading frames (ORFs) that code for micropeptides (miPEPs) having a regulatory function. Dual functions of some MIR genes are being deciphered, wherein the gene is transcribed into a longer transcript having a stem-loop structure and a shorter alternatively spliced transcript with no stem-loop. While the longer transcript is processed into miRNA, the shorter one is translated into miPEP. The miPEP enhances the transcription/production of the pri-miRNA from which it originates. Regulatory action of miPEP being species-specific, synthetic miPEP being is tested for exogenous application on crop plant to improve stress tolerance/agronomic performance. Deployment of the miPEP-mediated regulatory function might be a promising strategy to modulated miRNA-facilitated regulation of gene/trait of interest towards developing climate-resilient crops. In this review, we describe the newly identified and verified function of the MIR gene in the coding of miPEPs along with the comparison of the features of miRNA and miPEP in plant. We also discuss about their potential role in crop improvement and some of the yet unanswered question about miPEP.