Boron Stress Responsive MicroRNAs and Their Targets in Barley

Abstract

Boron stress is an environmental factor affecting plant development and production. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been found to be involved in several plant processes such as growth regulation and stress responses. In this study, miRNAs associated with boron stress were identified and characterized in barley. miRNA profiles were also comparatively analyzed between root and leave samples. A total of 31 known and 3 new miRNAs were identified in barley; 25 of them were found to respond to boron treatment. Several miRNAs were expressed in a tissue specific manner; for example, miR156d, miR171a, miR397, and miR444a were only detected in leaves. Additionally, a total of 934 barley transcripts were found to be specifically targeted and degraded by miRNAs. In silico analysis of miRNA target genes demonstrated that many miRNA targets are conserved transcription factors such as Squamosa promoter-binding protein, Auxin response factor (ARF), and the MYB transcription factor family. A majority of these targets were responsible for plant growth and response to environmental changes. We also propose that some of the miRNAs in barley such as miRNA408 might play critical roles against boron exposure. In conclusion, barley may use several pathways and cellular processes targeted by miRNAs to cope with boron stress.

Transport of Boron by thetassel-less1Aquaporin Is Critical for Vegetative and Reproductive Development in Maize

“…However, several genes have been found to be regulated by B levels, suggesting that plants possess mechanisms to sense, respond to, and maintain B homeostasis, either directly or indirectly (Kobayashi et al, 2004;Takano et al, 2006;Camacho-Cristóbal et al, 2008;Ozhuner et al, 2013;Abreu et al, 2014). Most notable, however, is the fact that B is proposed to play an important role in organisms lacking cell walls such as zebra fish and mice, suggesting that there are other functions for B that remain unresolved (Lanoue et al, 1998;Bennett et al, 1999;Rowe and Eckhert, 1999).…”

MicroRNA319 Positively Regulates Cold Tolerance by Targeting OsPCF6 and OsTCP21 in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

“…MiR319 , previously known as ‘miR-JAW’, was firstly described in Arabidopsis because of its role in controlling leaf morphogenesis [20], [21]. It has been reported that miR319 targeted TEOSINTE BRANCHED/CYCLOIDEA/PCF (TCP) genes, the plant-specific transcription factors containing bHLH motifs that allow DNA binding and protein-protein interaction [22], [23], [24], [25], [26], [27].…”

The tae-miR408-Mediated Control of TaTOC1 Genes Transcription Is Required for the Regulation of Heading Time in Wheat

“…The expression of miR408 is responsive to various environmental factors, e.g. copper, light, boron, water deficit, and salinity (Yamasaki et al, 2007;Trindade et al, 2010;Ozhuner et al, 2013;Mutum et al, 2013;Feng et al, 2013;Jovanovi c et al, 2014;Zhang et al, 2014;Hajyzadeh et al, 2015). Previous studies have indicated that plantacyanin, laccases, AFG1, and TaCLP1 are genuine targets of miR408 (Wang et al, 2004;Zhang et al, 2006;Abdel-Ghany and Pilon, 2008;Feng et al, 2013;Ozhuner et al, 2013).…”