System Analysis of MIRNAs in Maize Internode Elongation

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), the post-transcriptional gene regulators, are known to play an important role in plant development. The identification of differentially expressed miRNAs could better help us understand the post-transcriptional regulation that occurs during maize internode elongation. Accordingly, we compared the expression of MIRNAs between fixed internode and elongation internode samples and classified six differentially expressed MIRNAs as internode elongation-responsive miRNAs including zma-MIR160c, zma-MIR164b, zma-MIR164c, zma-MIR168a, zma-MIR396f, and zma-MIR398b, which target mRNAs supported by transcriptome sequencing. Functional enrichment analysis for predictive target genes showed that these miRNAs were involved in the development of internode elongation by regulating the genes respond to hormone signaling. To further reveal how miRNA affects internode elongation by affecting target genes, the miRNA–mRNA–PPI (protein and protein interaction) network was constructed to summarize the interaction of miRNAs and these target genes. Our results indicate that miRNAs regulate internode elongation in maize by targeting genes related to cell expansion, cell wall synthesis, transcription, and regulatory factors.

Identification and analysis of miRNAs‐lncRNAs‐mRNAs modules involved in stem‐elongation of deepwater rice (Oryza sativa L.)

“…(10.25), and miR396f (6.34) in deepwater stress treatment (Peng et al, 2019). Similar to miRNAs in the internode, the expression of some conserved miRNAs such as miR166, miR167, and miR171 in our study was similar to previous reports in maize and cucumber (Xu et al, 2019;Zhang et al, 2008).…”

“…These results show the specificity of miRNAs even in the same miRNAs families. Members of miRNAs such as miR159, miR164, miR167, miR172, and miR396 were previously reported in maize on internode elongation (Peng et al, 2019). In our study, we also found a similar expression pattern of these miRNAs such as miR159a (7.49), miR164c (8.82), miR167c (−1.32), miR172d (10.25), and miR396f (6.34) in deepwater stress treatment (Peng et al, 2019).…”

“…Members of miRNAs such as miR159, miR164, miR167, miR172, and miR396 were previously reported in maize on internode elongation (Peng et al, 2019). In our study, we also found a similar expression pattern of these miRNAs such as miR159a (7.49), miR164c (8.82), miR167c (−1.32), miR172d (10.25), and miR396f (6.34) in deepwater stress treatment (Peng et al, 2019). Similar to miRNAs in the internode, the expression of some conserved miRNAs such as miR166, miR167, and miR171 in our study was similar to previous reports in maize and cucumber (Xu et al, 2019; Zhang et al, 2008).…”

Uncovering miRNA-mRNA Regulatory Modules in Developing Xylem of Pinus massoniana via Small RNA and Degradome Sequencing

“…Lignin in higher plants is synthesized via the phenylpropanoide pathway and the lignin-specific pathway, and phenylalanine is synthesized via a series of reactions to produce 3 major lignin monomers, which are ultimately polymerized into polymeric lignin under the catalysis of peroxidase (POX) and laccase (LAC) [ 9 ]. Numerous studies showed that various non-coding RNAs, such as miR156, miR160, miR164, miR319, and miR397, target LAC [ 50 , 51 , 52 ]. The present study found that novel_57 and novel_104 directly targeted LAC to prevent individual lignin monomers from entering the lignin synthesis pathway ( Figure 6 ).…”

Cell Wall Composition Impacts Structural Characteristics of the Stems and Thereby Biomass Yield

“…However, increases in plant height must have to deal with stem lodging losses. Stem lodging, caused by the bending or breaking of the stalk, is greatly impacted by stalk strength and stem morphological traits, therefore it could be said that maize stem strength impacts both grain yield and silage quality 10,13,14 .…”