Small RNAs Turn Over a New Leaf as Morphogens

Abstract

In this issue of Developmental Cell, Skopelitis et al. (2017) demonstrate that sharp boundaries of gene expression can be created by threshold-based readout of mobile small RNA gradients. Support for this hypothesis comes from manipulation of small RNAs involved in top-bottom leaf patterning and from a novel synthetic biology approach.

The Making of Leaves: How Small RNA Networks Modulate Leaf Development

“…A similar but opposite pattern was also observed for TAS3-ARF . The movement of miR165/166 and miR390 generates sharp boundaries via a threshold-based readout of their mobility gradients ( Robinson and Roeder, 2017 ; Skopelitis et al, 2017 ).…”

Emerging Connections between Small RNAs and Phytohormones

“…sRNAs constitute important regulators of plant development under favorable conditions, for example, for the establisment of leaf patterning and leaf growth [14][15][16][17]. Moreover, they also participate to environmental stress responses.…”