Regulation Of Gene Expression In Plants Research Articles

Transcriptional Modulation during Photomorphogenesis in Rice Seedlings.

Light is one of the most important factors regulating plant gene expression patterns, metabolism, physiology, growth, and development. To explore how light may induce or alter transcript splicing, we conducted RNA-Seq-based transcriptome analyses by comparing the samples harvested as etiolated seedlings grown under continuous dark conditions vs. the light-treated green seedlings. The study aims to reveal differentially regulated protein-coding genes and novel long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), their light-induced alternative splicing, and their association with biological pathways. We identified 14,766 differentially expressed genes, of which 4369 genes showed alternative splicing. We observed that genes mapped to the plastid-localized methyl-erythritol-phosphate (MEP) pathway were light-upregulated compared to the cytosolic mevalonate (MVA) pathway genes. Many of these genes also undergo splicing. These pathways provide crucial metabolite precursors for the biosynthesis of secondary metabolic compounds needed for chloroplast biogenesis, the establishment of a successful photosynthetic apparatus, and photomorphogenesis. In the chromosome-wide survey of the light-induced transcriptome, we observed intron retention as the most predominant splicing event. In addition, we identified 1709 novel lncRNA transcripts in our transcriptome data. This study provides insights on light-regulated gene expression and alternative splicing in rice.

Analysis of the 5' Untranslated Region Length-Dependent Control of Gene Expression in Maize: A Case Study with the ZmLAZ1 Gene Family.

The untranslated regions (UTRs) within plant mRNAs play crucial roles in regulating gene expression and the functionality of post-translationally modified proteins by various mechanisms. These regions are vital for plants' ability to sense to multiple developmental and environmental stimuli. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide analysis of UTRs and UTR-containing genes in maize (Zea mays). Using the ZmLAZ1 family as a case study, we demonstrated that the length of 5' UTRs could influence gene expression levels by employing GUS reporter gene assays. Although maize and arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), as well as rice (Oryza sativa), have distinct functional categories of UTR-containing genes, we observed a similar lengthwise distribution of UTRs and a recurring appearance of certain gene ontology (GO) terms between maize and rice. These suggest a potentially conserved mechanism within the Poaceae species. Furthermore, the analysis of cis-acting elements in these 5' UTRs of the ZmLAZ1 gene family further supports the hypothesis that UTRs confer functional specificity to genes in a length-dependent manner. Our findings offer novel insights into the role of UTRs in maize, contributing to the broader understanding of gene expression regulation in plants.

BnAP2-12 overexpression delays ramie flowering: evidence from AP2/ERF gene expression.

The APETALA2/ethylene response factor (AP2/ERF) superfamily plays a significant role in regulating plant gene expression in response to growth and development. To date, there have been no studies into whether the ramie AP2/ERF genes are involved in the regulation of flower development. Here, 84 BnAP2/ERF members were identified from the ramie genome database, and various bioinformatics data on the AP2/ERF gene family, structure, replication, promoters and regulatory networks were analysed. BnAP2-12 was transferred into Arabidopsis through the flower-dipping method. Phylogenetic analysis classified the 84 BnAP2/ERF members into four subfamilies: AP2 (18), RAV (3), ERF (42), and DREB (21). The functional domain analysis of genes revealed 10 conserved motifs. Genetic mapping localised the 84 members on 14 chromosomes, among which chromosomes 1, 3, 5, and 8 had more members. Collinearity analysis revealed that 43.37% possibly resulted from replication events during the evolution of the ramie genome. Promoter sequence analysis identified classified cis-acting elements associated with plant growth and development, and responses to stress, hormones, and light. Transcriptomic comparison identified 3,635 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between male and female flowers (1,803 and 1,832 upregulated and downregulated genes, respectively). Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis categorised DEGs involved in metabolic pathways and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis further identified enriched genes associated with pollen and female gamete formations. Of the 84 BnAP2/ERFs genes, 22 and 8 upregulated and downregulated genes, respectively, were present in female flowers. Co-expression network analysis identified AP2/ERF members associated with flower development, including BnAP2-12. Subcellular localisation analysis showed that the BnAP2-12 protein is localised in the nucleus and cell membrane. Overexpression BnAP2-12 delayed the flowering time of Arabidopsis thaliana. These findings provide insights into the mechanism of ramie flower development.

Transcriptome Analysis of Plant Growth-promoting Bacteria Alleviating Microplastic and Heavy Metal Combined Pollution Stress in Sorghum

Microplastics can become potential transport carriers of other environmental pollutants (such as heavy metals), so the combined pollution of microplastics and heavy metals has attracted increasing attention from researchers. To explore the mechanism of plant growth-promoting bacteria VY-1 alleviating the combined pollution stress of heavy metals and microplastics in sorghum, the effects of inoculation on biomass and accumulation of heavy metals in sorghum were analyzed using a hydroponics experiment, and the effects of inoculation on gene expression in sorghum were analyzed via transcriptomics. The results showed that the combined pollution of polyethylene (PE) and cadmium (Cd) decreased the dry weight of above-ground and underground parts by 17.04% and 10.36%, respectively, compared with that under the single Cd pollution, which showed that the combined toxicity effect of the combined pollution on plant growth was enhanced. The inoculation of plant growth-promoting bacteria VY-1 could alleviate the toxicity of Cd-PE combined pollution and increase the length of aboveground and underground parts by 33.83% and 73.21% and the dry weight by 56.64% and 33.44%, respectively. Transcriptome sequencing showed that 904 genes were up-regulated after inoculation with VY-1. Inoculation with growth-promoting bacteria VY-1 could up-regulate the expression of several genes in the auxin, abscisic acid, flavonoid synthesis, and lignin biosynthesis pathways, which promoted the response ability of sorghum under Cd-PE combined pollution stress and improved its resistance. The above results indicated that plant growth-promoting bacteria could alleviate the stress of heavy metal and microplastic combined pollution by regulating plant gene expression, which provided a reference for plant-microbial joint remediation of heavy metal and microplastic combined pollution.

Plant growth-promoting bacteria modulate gene expression and induce antioxidant tolerance to alleviate synergistic toxicity from combined microplastic and Cd pollution in sorghum

Microplastics (MPs) can act as carriers for environmental pollutants; therefore, MPs combined with heavy metal pollution are attracting increasing attention from researchers. In this study, the potential of the plant growth-promoting bacterium Bacillus sp. SL-413 to mitigate the stress caused by exposure to both MPs and cadmium (Cd) in sorghum plants was investigated. The effects of inoculation on sorghum biomass were investigated using hydroponic experiments, and evaluation of Cd accumulation and enzyme activity changes and transcriptomics approaches were used to analyze its effect on sorghum gene expression. The results showed that combined polyethylene (PE) and Cd pollution reduced the length and the fresh and dry weights of sorghum plants and thus exerted a synergistic toxic effect. However, inoculation with the strains alleviated the stress caused by the combined pollution and significantly increased the biomass. Inoculation increased the dry weights of the aboveground and belowground parts by 11.5–44.6% and 14.9–38.4%, respectively. Plant physiological measurements indicated that inoculation reduced the reactive oxygen species (ROS) content of sorghum by 10.5–27.2% and thereby alleviated oxidative stress. Transcriptome sequencing showed that exposure to combined Cd+MP contamination induced downregulation of gene expression, particularly that of genes related to amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism, and plant hormone signal transduction, in sorghum. However, inoculation with Bacillus sp. SL-413 resulted in an increase in the proportion of upregulated genes involved in signal transduction, antioxidant defense, cell wall biology, and other metabolic pathways, which included the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, photosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, and MAPK signaling pathways. The upregulation of these genes promoted the tolerance of sorghum under combined Cd+MP pollution stress and alleviated the stress induced by these conditions. This study provides the first demonstration that plant growth-promoting bacteria can alleviate the stress caused by combined pollution with MPs and Cd by regulating plant gene expression. These findings provide a reference for the combined plant-microbial remediation of MPs and Cd.

Cysteine thiol-based post-translational modification: What do we know about transcription factors?

Reactive electrophilic species are ubiquitous in plant cells, where they contribute to specific redox-regulated signaling events. Redox signaling is known to modulate gene expression during diverse biological processes, including plant growth, development, and environmental stress responses. Emerging data demonstrates that transcription factors (TFs) are a main target of cysteine thiol-based oxidative post-translational modifications (OxiPTMs), which can alter their transcriptional activity and thereby convey redox information to the nucleus. Here, we review the significant progress that has been made in characterizing cysteine thiol-based OxiPTMs, their biochemical properties, and their functional effects on plant TFs. We discuss the underlying mechanism of redox regulation and its contribution to various physiological processes as well as still outstanding challenges in redox regulation of plant gene expression.

Epitranscriptomic mRNA modifications governing plant stress responses: underlying mechanism and potential application.

Plants inevitably encounter environmental adversities, including abiotic and biotic stresses, which significantly impede plant growth and reduce crop yield. Thus, fine-tuning the fate and function of stress-responsive RNAs is indispensable for plant survival under such adverse conditions. Recently, post-transcriptional RNA modifications have been studied as a potent route to regulate plant gene expression under stress. Among over 160 mRNA modifications identified to date, N6 -methyladenosine (m6 A) in mRNAs is notable because of its multifaceted roles in plant development and stress response. Recent transcriptome-wide mapping has revealed the distribution and patterns of m6 A in diverse stress-responsive mRNAs in plants, building a foundation for elucidating the molecular link between m6 A and stress response. Moreover, the identification and characterization of m6 A writers, readers and erasers in Arabidopsis and other model crops have offered insights into the biological roles of m6 A in plant abiotic stress responses. Here, we review the recent progress of research on mRNA modifications, particularly m6 A, and their dynamics, distribution, regulation and biological functions in plant stress responses. Further, we posit potential strategies for breeding stress-tolerant crops by engineering mRNA modifications and propose the future direction ofresearch on RNA modifications to gain a much deeper understanding of plant stress biology.

The apple GARP family gene MdHHO3 regulates the nitrate response and leaf senescence.

The regulation of plant gene expression by nitrate is a complex regulatory process. Here, we identified 90 GARP family genes in apples by genome-wide analysis. As a member of the GARP gene family, the expression of MdHHO3 (Malus domestica HYPERSENSITIVITY TO LOW PHOSPHATE-ELICITED PRIMARY ROOT SHORTENING1 HOMOLOG 3) is upregulated under N (nitrogen) supply. The results of DNA-binding site analysis and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) showed that MdHHO3 binds to the motif-containing GAATC. Furthermore, MdHHO3 binds to its promoter sequence and inhibits its activity. In addition, the overexpression of MdHHO3 in apple calli resulted in less accumulation of nitrate in 35S:MdHHO3-GFP calli and downregulated the expression of the nitrate transport-related genes but upregulated the expression of the nitrate assimilation-related genes. Similarly, the expression of the nitrate transport-related genes was downregulated and the expression of the nitrate assimilation-related genes was upregulated in MdHHO3 overexpression Arabidopsis and tobacco plants. Interaction experiments showed that MdHHO3 could bind to the promoter MdNRT2.1 (NITRATE TRANSPORTER 2.1) and negatively regulate its expression. Moreover, the exposure of MdHHO3-overexpressing Arabidopsis and tobacco to nitrate deficiency resulted in an early senescence phenotype as compared to the WT plants. These results show that MdHHO3 can not only negatively regulate nitrate accumulation in response to nitrate but also promote early leaf senescence under nitrate deficiency. This information may be useful to further reveal the mechanism of the nitrate response and demonstrates that nitrate deficiency induces leaf senescence in apples.

DNA methylation dynamics during stress response in woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca).

SummaryEnvironmental stresses can result in a wide range of physiological and molecular responses in plants. These responses can also impact epigenetic information in genomes, especially at the level of DNA methylation (5-methylcytosine). DNA methylation is the hallmark heritable epigenetic modification and plays a key role in silencing transposable elements (TEs). Although DNA methylation is an essential epigenetic mechanism, fundamental aspects of its contribution to stress responses and adaptation remain obscure.We investigated epigenome dynamics of wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca) in response to variable ecologically relevant environmental conditions at the DNA methylation level. F. vesca methylome responded with great plasticity to ecologically relevant abiotic and hormonal stresses. Thermal stress resulted in substantial genome-wide loss of DNA methylation. Notably, all tested stress conditions resulted in marked hot spots of differential DNA methylation near centromeric or pericentromeric regions, particularly in the non-symmetrical DNA methylation context. Additionally, we identified differentially methylated regions (DMRs) within promoter regions of transcription factor (TF) superfamilies involved in plant stress-response and assessed the effects of these changes on gene expression.These findings improve our understanding on stress-response at the epigenome level by highlighting the correlation between DNA methylation, TEs and gene expression regulation in plants subjected to a broad range of environmental stresses.

Concerto on Chromatin: Interplays of Different Epigenetic Mechanisms in Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation.

Epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications, chromatin remodeling, and noncoding RNAs, play important roles in regulating plant gene expression, which is involved in various biological processes including plant development and stress responses. Increasing evidence reveals that these different epigenetic mechanisms are highly interconnected, thereby contributing to the complexity of transcriptional reprogramming in plant development processes and responses to environmental stresses. Here, we provide an overview of recent advances in understanding the epigenetic regulation of plant gene expression and highlight the crosstalk among different epigenetic mechanisms in making plant developmental and stress-responsive decisions. Structural, physical, transcriptional and metabolic bases for these epigenetic interplays are discussed.

Disruption of topologically associating domains by structural variations in tetraploid cottons

Structural variations (SVs) are recognized to have an important role in transcriptional regulation, especially in the light of resolved 3D genome structure using high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) technology in mammals. However, the effect of SVs on 3D genome organization in plants remains rarely understood. In this study, we identified 295,496 SVs and 5251 topologically associating domains (TADs) in two diploid and two tetraploid cottons. We observed that approximately 16% of SVs occurred in TAD boundary regions that were called boundary affecting-structural variations (BA-SVs), and had a large effect on disrupting TAD organization. Nevertheless, SVs preferred occurring in TAD interior instead of TAD boundary, probably associated with the relaxed evolutionary selection pressure. We noticed the biased evolution of the At and Dt subgenomes of tetraploid cottons, in terms of SV-mediated disruption of 3D genome structure relative to diploids. In addition, we provide evidence showing that both SVs and TAD disruption could lead to expression difference of orthologous genes. This study advances our understanding of the effect of SVs on 3D genome organization and gene expression regulation in plants.

G-Quadruplex in Gene Encoding Large Subunit of Plant RNA Polymerase II: A Billion-Year-Old Story.

G-quadruplexes have long been perceived as rare and physiologically unimportant nucleic acid structures. However, several studies have revealed their importance in molecular processes, suggesting their possible role in replication and gene expression regulation. Pathways involving G-quadruplexes are intensively studied, especially in the context of human diseases, while their involvement in gene expression regulation in plants remains largely unexplored. Here, we conducted a bioinformatic study and performed a complex circular dichroism measurement to identify a stable G-quadruplex in the gene RPB1, coding for the RNA polymerase II large subunit. We found that this G-quadruplex-forming locus is highly evolutionarily conserved amongst plants sensu lato (Archaeplastida) that share a common ancestor more than one billion years old. Finally, we discussed a new hypothesis regarding G-quadruplexes interacting with UV light in plants to potentially form an additional layer of the regulatory network.

H3K27me3 demethylases alter HSP22 and HSP17.6C expression in response to recurring heat in Arabidopsis

Acclimation to high temperature increases plants’ tolerance of subsequent lethal high temperatures. Although epigenetic regulation of plant gene expression is well studied, how plants maintain a memory of environmental changes over time remains unclear. Here, we show that JUMONJI (JMJ) proteins, demethylases involved in histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3), are necessary for Arabidopsis thaliana heat acclimation. Acclimation induces sustained H3K27me3 demethylation at HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN22 (HSP22) and HSP17.6C loci by JMJs, poising the HSP genes for subsequent activation. Upon sensing heat after a 3-day interval, JMJs directly reactivate these HSP genes. Finally, jmj mutants fail to maintain heat memory under fluctuating field temperature conditions. Our findings of an epigenetic memory mechanism involving histone demethylases may have implications for environmental adaptation of field plants.

Ribosomal profiling as a tool for studying translation in plants: main results, problems and future prospects

Экспрессию эукариотических генов можно регулировать на нескольких этапах, включая трансляцию мРНК. Известно, что структура мРНК способна влиять как на эффективность взаимодействия с аппаратом трансляции в целом, так и на выбор сайтов инициации трансляции. Для исследования транслируемой фракции транскриптома были разработаны экспериментальные методы анализа, наиболее информативным из которых является рибосомное профилирование (РП, Ribo-seq). Первоначально созданный для использования в дрожжевых системах, этот метод был адаптирован для трансляционных исследований на многих видах растений. Технология включает выделение полисомной фракции и высокопроизводительное секвенирование пула сегментов мРНК, связанных с рибосомами. Сравнение результатов покрытия транскриптома прочтениями, полученными по протоколу рибосомного профилирования, с аналогичным результатами по секвенированию транскриптома дает возможность оценить эффективность трансляции для каждого транскрипта. Точные положения рибосом, определенные на последовательностях мРНК, позволяют определять трансляцию открытых рамок считывания и переключение между трансляцией нескольких рамок считывания – феномен, при котором с одной матрицы РНК происходят считывание двух или более перекрывающихся рамок и биосинтез разных белков. Преимущество метода заключается в том, что он дает возможность получить количественные оценки покрытия рибосомами мРНК и может выявлять относительно редкие события трансляции. Использование этой технологии позволило классифицировать гены растений по типу регуляции их экспрессии на уровне транскрипции, трансляции или на обоих уровнях. Обнаружены особенности структуры мРНК, которые влияют на уровни трансляции: формирование квадруплексов G2 и наличие специфических мотивов в области 5’-UTR, GC-состав, наличие альтернативных стартов трансляции, влияние uORF на трансляцию нижестоящих mORF. Показано, что изменения регуляции экспрессии генов на уровне трансляции возникают в ответ на биотический и абиотический стрессы, а также в процессе развития растений. В обзоре кратко рассмотрены методология РП и перспективы ее применения для исследования структурно-функциональной организации и регуляции экспрессии генов растений.

Characteristics and phylogeny of DREB gene subfamily in soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Meril

Dehydration responsive element binding proteins (DREB) are transcription factors linked to cis-acting elements of the promoter region, which regulate plant gene expression in response to abiotic stress. In this study, 69 DREB gene sequences of soybean from NCBI belonging to 18 GmDREB (Glycine max DREB) genes of 1 to 8 copies distributed on 17 chromosomes were identified in which GmDREB3 has 8 copies and the rest consisted of 1 to 4 ones. The motif PTPEMAARAYDVAALALKGPSARLNFPEL containing 11 points associated with the promoter of functional genes existed in 4 main types with the most popular one RGRRWKERRWT found in 13/18 DREB proteins was regarded as the popular AP2 domain of DREB protein. The phylogenetic tree based on the nucleotide sequences of GmDREB genes and the amino acid sequences of the AP2 domain expresses the evolution and relationship of the DREB subfamily in soybean. This study provides comprehensive information about the DREB subfamily, which formed the basis for experimental analyses to clarify the function of some members of this subfamily.

Rapid Validation of Transcriptional Enhancers Using a Transient Reporter Assay.

Enhancers are one of the main classes of cis-regulatory elements (CREs) in the regulation of plant gene expression. Plant enhancers can be predicted based on genomic signatures associated with open chromatin. However, predicted enhancers need to be validated experimentally. We developed an experimental system for rapid enhancer validation. Predicted enhancer candidates are cloned into a vector containing a minimal 35S promoter and a luciferase reporter gene. The construct is then agroinfiltrated into Nicotiana benthamiana leaves followed by bioluminescence signal detection and analysis. Positive bioluminescence signals indicate the enhancer function of each candidate, and the relative signal strength from different enhancers can be quantitatively measured and compared. In summary, we have developed an efficient and rapid plant enhancer validation assay based on a bioluminescent luciferase reporter and agroinfiltration-based N. benthamiana leaf transient expression. This assay can be used for the initial screening of candidate enhancers that are active in leaf tissue. The system can potentially be used to examine the activity of candidate enhancers under different environmental conditions.

M6A RNA Methylation in Marine Plants: First Insights and Relevance for Biological Rhythms.

Circadian regulations are essential for enabling organisms to synchronize physiology with environmental light-dark cycles. Post-transcriptional RNA modifications still represent an understudied level of gene expression regulation in plants, although they could play crucial roles in environmental adaptation. N6-methyl-adenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent mRNA modification, established by “writer” and “eraser” proteins. It influences the clockwork in several taxa, but only few studies have been conducted in plants and none in marine plants. Here, we provided a first inventory of m6A-related genes in seagrasses and investigated daily changes in the global RNA methylation and transcript levels of writers and erasers in Cymodocea nodosa and Zostera marina. Both species showed methylation peaks during the dark period under the same photoperiod, despite exhibiting asynchronous changes in the m6A profile and related gene expression during a 24-h cycle. At contrasting latitudes, Z. marina populations displayed overlapping daily patterns of the m6A level and related gene expression. The observed rhythms are characteristic for each species and similar in populations of the same species with different photoperiods, suggesting the existence of an endogenous circadian control. Globally, our results indicate that m6A RNA methylation could widely contribute to circadian regulation in seagrasses, potentially affecting the photo-biological behaviour of these plants.

Barley microRNAs as metabolic sensors for soil nitrogen availability

Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is one of the most important crops in the world, ranking 4th in the worldwide production. Crop breeders are facing increasing environmental obstacles in the field, such as drought, salinity but also toxic over fertilization which not only impacts quality of the grain but also an yield. One of the most prevalent mechanisms of gene expression regulation in plants is microRNA-mediated silencing of target genes. We identified 13 barley microRNAs and 2 microRNAs* that are nitrogen excess responsive. Four microRNAs respond only in root, eight microRNAs only in shoot and one displays broad response in roots and shoots. We demonstrate that 2 microRNAs* are induced in barley shoot by nitrogen excess. For all microRNAs we identified putative target genes and confirmed microRNA-guided cleavage sites for ten out of thirteen mRNAs. None of the identified microRNAs or their target genes is known as nitrogen excess responsive. Analysis of expression pattern of thirteen target mRNAs and their cognate microRNAs showed expected correlations of their levels. The plant microRNAs analyzed are also known to respond to nitrogen deprivation and exhibit the opposite expression pattern when nitrogen excess/deficiency conditions are compared. Thus, they can be regarded as metabolic sensors of the regulation of nitrogen homeostasis in plants.

Profiling of the Salt Stress Responsive MicroRNA Landscape of C4 Genetic Model Species Setaria viridis (L.) Beauv

Setaria viridis has recently emerged as an ideal model species to genetically characterize the C4 monocotyledonous grasses via a molecular modification approach. Soil salinization has become a compelling agricultural problem globally with salinity adversely impacting the yield potential of many of the major cereals. Small regulatory molecules of RNA, termed microRNAs (miRNAs), were originally demonstrated crucial for developmental gene expression regulation in plants, however, miRNAs have since been shown to additionally command a central regulatory role in abiotic stress adaptation. Therefore, a small RNA sequencing approach was employed to profile the salt stress responsive miRNA landscapes of the shoot and root tissues of two Setaria viridis accessions (A10 and ME034V) amenable to molecular modification. Small RNA sequencing-identified abundance alterations for miRNAs, miR169, miR395, miR396, miR397, miR398 and miR408, were experimentally validated via RT-qPCR. RT-qPCR was further applied to profile the molecular response of the miR160 and miR167 regulatory modules to salt stress. This analysis revealed accession- and tissue-specific responses for the miR160 and miR167 regulatory modules in A10 and ME034V shoot and root tissues exposed to salt stress. The findings reported here form the first crucial step in the identification of the miRNA regulatory modules to target for molecular manipulation to determine if such modification provides S. viridis with an improved tolerance to salt stress.

Identification of anthocyanin biosynthesis related microRNAs and total microRNAs in Lonicera edulis by high-throughput sequencing

miRNAs are important regulators of plant gene expression. There are few studies on the regulation of miRNAs in Lonicera edulis. We used high-throughput sequencing technology to analyse miRNAs in L. edulis, aiming to identify miRNAs and elucidate their function in L. edulis. In the present study, we employed the high-throughput sequencing technology to profile miRNAs in L. edulis. A total of 51,819,072 small RNA tags with sizes ranging from 18 to 30 nt were obtained, indicating that L. edulis have a large and diverse small RNA population. Bioinformatic analysis identified 507 mature miRNAs, and 16 predicted novel miRNAs that are likely to be unique to L. edulis. Three miRNAs related to anthocyanin biosynthesis were locked by gene ontology (GO) analysis and target gene analysis. The selected three miRNAs are relatively high in the expression of L. edulis. Some of the previous studies have studied these types of miRNAs involved in the anthocyanin metabolism pathway in fruits. Among them, expression profiles of three conserved miRNAs were validated by stem loop qRT-PCR. Further, the potential target genes of conserved and novel miRNAs were predicted and subjected to GO annotation. Enrichment analysis of the GO-represented biological processes and molecular functions revealed that these target genes were potentiallyinvolved in a wide range of metabolic pathways and developmental processes. In particular, different families of miRNAs can directly or indirectly regulate anthocyanin biosynthesis. In recent years, the research on miRNAs has become more and more clear, but the research on miRNAs involved in the regulation of anthocyanin synthesis of L. edulis is still lagging. This study provides a useful resource for further elucidation of the functional roles of miRNAs during fruit development and ripening.