Plant miRNA integrated functions in development and reproduction

Abstract

Plant development and reproduction are complex processes during which an individual fulfills its life cycle, starting from germination and the elaboration of new organs and growth, leading to the formation of reproductive structures and ultimately terminating in the production of the next generation. These mechanisms are the result of a long evolutionary history that has led to sophisticated regulatory mechanisms involving multiple levels of regulators. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small regulatory molecules that play a pivotal role in regulatory networks by negatively controlling target genes. Since miRNA very first identification twenty years ago, they have attracted much interest for their role as essential regulators of plant development. In this review, we propose a comprehensive and critical analysis of the importance of miRNAs during plant development and reproduction. We begin by presenting the current understanding of miRNAs’ evolutionary history, biogenesis, mode of action, position in regulatory networks, and their potential as mobile molecules, exploring how these aspects contribute to their functions in plant development and reproduction. Then, we explore the genetic strategies employed to effectively analyze their roles, with an emphasis on recent advancements resulting from genome editing techniques. Next, we focus on miRNA contributions to four crucial processes: growth, organ patterning and identity, life cycle progression and reproduction. Through this analysis, the importance of miRNAs during plant development and reproduction emerges, which we finally discuss in light of the current view miRNAs’ roles during animal development.

The mutation of the MIR867 gene causes seed abortion and affects fruit size in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana

“…Los microRNAs son moléculas involucradas en la regulación de una gran diversidad de procesos biológicos en los seres vivos. En plantas, se ha descrito ampliamente su función a nivel vegetativo (Waheed & Lihui, 2020;Vyas et al, 2023) pero poco se sabe a nivel reproductivo, ya que aunque se tiene información valiosa relacionada con este proceso, como la importancia que tiene la transición de la etapa juvenil a adulto para que las plantas adquieran ese potencial reproductivo adecuado, incluyendo la etapa de transición floral donde miR172 juega un papel importante, o el hecho de saber que las familias miR160 y miR167 impactan en el desarrollo adecuado de óvulos, estambres y semillas en Arabidopsis y jitomate, que posteriormente también impactarán en el proceso de reproducción, o que la mutación de miR159a, miR159b, miR164b, miR319a en Arabidopsis y miR2118 en arroz reducen la fertilidad (Arnud & Laufs, 2023), aún falta mucho por averiguar en el proceso de reproducción de las plantas. En este trabajo reportamos que cuando se disminuye la expresión del miR867 a consecuencia de una mutación por T-DNA, se compromete el tamaño del fruto y la fertilidad.…”

Identification and expression profiling of microRNAs in leaf tissues of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. under salinity stress

“… 1 They exert a pivotal control on the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression by virtue of their capability to mediate the degradation or translational inhibition of messenger RNAs (mRNAs). 1 As a matter of fact, plant miRNAs have been widely associated with several biological functions, including development and reproduction, 2 cell reprogramming, 3 secondary metabolism, 4 and biotic and abiotic stress responses. 5 …”