Recent studies on non-coding small RNAs in plants

Abstract

There are many non-coding small RNAs in plants and animals, which regulate gene expression via direct cleavage of target mRNAs or via inhibition of translation at the post-transcriptional level. In this paper, recent studies on microRNA (miRNA)-mediated phased siRNAs (phasiRNA) and endogenous target mimics (eTMs) were reviewed: 1) phasiRNAs can be generated both in coding and non-coding loci, and some require miRNA-mediated cleavage for their biogenesis. Pattern and evolutionary mechanisms of miRNA-mediated phasiRNAs were discussed. 2) Genome-wide identification and application of eTMs as miRNA decoy targets were recommended, including the use of artificial target mimics to validate the functions of miRNAs and employing bioinformatics methods to identify eTMs in the whole-genome level.

Keywords

• microRNA
• small interfering RNA
• phased small interfering RNA
• endogenous target mimics
• bioinformatics