Research article
Diverse set of microRNAs are responsive to powdery mildew infection and heat stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
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* Corresponding authors: Chaojie Xie xiecj127@126.com - Qixin Sun qxsun@cau.edu.cn
- † Equal contributors
1 State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology and Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Genetic Improvement (MOA), Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100094, China
2 National Plant Gene Research Centre (Beijing), Beijing 100094, China
3 Department of Plant Genetics & Breeding, China Agricultural University, Yuanmingyuan Xi Road No. 2, Haidian District, Beijing, 100193, China
BMC Plant Biology 2010, 10:123 doi:10.1186/1471-2229-10-123
Published: 24 June 2010Abstract
Background
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding regulatory RNAs that regulate gene expression by guiding target mRNA cleavage or translational inhibition. MiRNAs can have large-scale regulatory effects on development and stress response in plants.
Results
To test whether miRNAs play roles in regulating response to powdery mildew infection and heat stress in wheat, by using Solexa high-throughput sequencing we cloned the small RNA from wheat leaves infected by preponderant physiological strain Erysiphe graminis f. sp. tritici (Egt) or by heat stress treatment. A total of 153 miRNAs were identified, which belong to 51 known and 81 novel miRNA families. We found that 24 and 12 miRNAs were responsive to powdery mildew infection and heat stress, respectively. We further predicted that 149 target genes were potentially regulated by the novel wheat miRNA.
Conclusions
Our results indicated that diverse set of wheat miRNAs were responsive to powdery mildew infection and heat stress and could function in wheat responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses.