Abstract
Small RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs) and trans-acting short interfering RNAs (ta-siRNAs), have important regulatory roles in development. In plants, members of these classes of small RNAs act to pattern the adaxial–abaxial (dorsal–ventral) axis of leaves. The AUXIN-RESPONSE FACTOR (ARF) family members ARF3 and ARF4 are together necessary to establish abaxial (ventral) fate in leaves. ARF3 and ARF4 are targets of ta-siRNAs that are termed “tasiR-ARFs.” To begin to understand the possible role of tasiR-ARFs in leaf polarity, we have localized the biogenesis components of the tasiR-ARF pathway, including the microRNA miR390, the activity of the ARGONAUTE gene required for miR390 activity (AGO7), and the activity of tasiR-ARFs themselves. We provide evidence that the tasiR-ARF pathway in Arabidopsis acts non-cell autonomously to maintain the polarized accumulation of ARF3 in leaf primordia. Small RNAs (both miR390 and tasiR-ARFs) in this specialized RNAi pathway may contribute to its non-cell autonomous activity, as they accumulate outside their discrete regions of biogenesis. We propose that small RNAs can possibly function as mobile inductive signals to direct patterning events during development
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