Computational prediction and experimental verification of miRNAs in Panicum miliaceum L.

作     者：WU YongJun DU JiangFeng WANG XiaoLong FANG XiaoFeng SHAN WeiXing LIANG ZongSuo 

作者机构：College of Life SciencesNorthwest Agriculture&Forestry UniversityYangling 712100China College of Plant ProtectionNorthwest Agriculture&Forestry UniversityYangling 712100China National Institute of Biological SciencesBeijing 102206China 

出 版 物：《Science China(Life Sciences)》 (中国科学（生命科学英文版）)

年 卷 期：2012年第55卷第9期

页      面：807-817页

核心收录：

学科分类：0710[理学-生物学] 071010[理学-生物化学与分子生物学] 081704[工学-应用化学] 07[理学] 08[工学] 0817[工学-化学工程与技术] 09[农学] 0901[农学-作物学] 

基　　金：supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 30600384 and 50809068) the Young Outstanding Scholar Foundation of Northwest A & F University, China 

主　　题：microRNA Panicum prediction verification targets 

摘      要：MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs that play critical roles in post-transcriptional regulation. Their target genes are involved in a variety of biological processes such as development, metabolism, and stress response. Panicum miliaceum L. (Panicum) is an important grain crop, but, until now, no miRNAs have been identified in this plant. Using a homology search based on expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis and miRNA precursor secondary structure, a total of 43 new miRNAs were identified. The miRNAs were found to be unevenly distributed among 11 miRNA families. Target analysis using the plant small RNA target analysis server psRNATarget showed that the newly identified miRNAs can potentially regulate 68 target genes. Ten of the 11 miRNA families were annotated as involved in RNA regulation, suggesting they may play an essential role in post-transcriptional regulation in Panicum. Selected miRNAs representing eight of the families were verified by northern blotting, indicating that the prediction method that we used to identify the miRNAs was effective.