Non-coding RNAs in the development and pathogenesis of eukaryotic microbes

Abstract

RNA has long been regarded as the important intermediary in the central dogma of gene expression. Recently, the importance of RNAs in the regulation of gene expression became evident with the identification and characterization of non-protein coding transcripts named noncoding RNA (ncRNA). The ncRNAs, small and long, are ubiquitously present in all three domains of life and are being recognized for their important roles in genome defense and development. Some of the ncRNAs have been associated with diseases and therefore they offer diagnostic and therapeutic potential. In this mini-review, we have highlighted some recent research on the ncRNAs identified in eukaryotic microbes, with special emphasis on fungi that are pathogenic to humans or plants when possible. It is our contention that further elucidation and understanding of ncRNAs will advance our understanding of the development and pathogenesis of eukaryotic microbes and offer alternatives in the diagnosis and treatment of the diseases caused by these pathogens.

Genome‐wide identification of long non‐coding RNAs suggests a potential association with effector gene transcription in Phytophthora sojae

“…Non‐coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play key roles in biological processes by regulating gene expression at various stages, including transcriptional, translational and epigenetic levels (Castel and Martienssen, ; Faghihi and Wahlestedt, ; Mercer et al ., ). Based on the sequence sizes, ncRNAs are classified into small ncRNAs (smRNAs) and long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) (Chacko and Lin, ). smRNAs include various categories of short RNAs, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), short interfering RNAs (siRNAs), small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) and Piwi‐interacting RNAs (piRNAs) (Ma et al ., ).…”

Host-Pathogen interactions modulated by small RNAs

“…[1][2][3][4] Alternatively, in pathogens, these eukaryotic sRNAs play active part in development of offensive strategies and pathogenesis. 5,6 Interestingly, systemic intra cellular signal transformation by some sRNAs exhibit gene silencing inside cells and these signals can remarkably induce the particular phenomena in cells that are at a considerable long distance. 7 These mobile sRNAs have attracted the intentions of the researchers recently because they are thought to be involved in the cross kingdom host -microbe interactions.…”

Small RNAs — the secret agents in the plant–pathogen interactions

“…Both miRNAs and siRNAs play a pivotal role in regulating and fine-tuning gene expression in diverse cellular processes such as development and growth, genome integrity, epigenetic inheritance, and cellular stress responses, including host immunity [1-4]. Similarly, sRNAs from eukaryotic plant pathogens, pests, and symbionts also play an important regulatory role in developmental processes and pathogenicity [3,5,6]. Remarkably, some sRNAs are mobile signals in plants that transmit gene silencing from cell to cell, or systemically over a long distance [7-10].…”

“…The most prominent example of cross-kingdom RNAi from a plant to its interacting microorganism is host-induced gene silencing (HIGS), a phenomenon in which a plant-produced RNAi signal triggers silencing of a pathogen gene [13,14]. Conversely, sRNAs produced by pathogens and parasites can also translocate into host cells and trigger gene silencing of host genes [5,11,12,15,16]. Advanced pathogens hijack the host RNAi pathways and suppress host immunity genes to facilitate infection [3,12].…”

“…Diverse classes of sRNAs contribute to the pathogenesis of various eukaryotic pathogens as well [5,6]. In the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, many sRNAs that are derived from tRNAs are enriched in appressoria, an infection-specific organ at the interaction interface [54].…”