On the complexity of miRNA-mediated regulation in plants: novel insights into the genomic organization of plant miRNAs

• Main Authors: Colaiacovo Moreno, Lamontanara Antonella, Bernardo Letizia, Alberici Renzo, Crosatti Cristina, Giusti Lorenzo, Cattivelli Luigi, Faccioli Primetta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2012-05-01
• Series: Biology Direct
• Subjects: Gene regulation; Exonic miRNA; miRNA self regulation; Plants
• Online Access: http://www.biology-direct.com/content/7/1/15

<p>Abstract</p> <p>MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small non-coding RNAs of about 20–24 nt, known to play key roles in post-transcriptional gene regulation, that can be coded either by intergenic or intragenic loci. Intragenic (exonic and intronic) miRNAs can exert a role in the transcriptional regulation and RNA processing of their host gene. Moreover, the possibility that the biogenesis of exonic miRNAs could destabilize the corresponding protein-coding transcript and reduce protein synthesis makes their characterization very intriguing and suggests a possible novel mechanism of post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression.</p> <p>This work was designed to carry out the computational identification of putative exonic miRNAs in 30 plant species and the analysis of possible mechanisms involved in their regulation.</p> <p>The results obtained represent a useful starting point for future studies on the complex networks involved in microRNA-mediated gene regulation in plants.</p>