Identification of UV-B-induced microRNAs in wheat

Abstract

ABSTRACT. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in posttranscriptional gene regulation and act as important endogenous regulators to various stressors. Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation is a major factor influencing crop growth and development. In this study, we isolated a novel wheat miRNA, named Tae-miR6000, and confirmed its expression diversity after UV-B treatments. Additionally, using the Northern blotting technique, we found that six miRNAs were highly responsive to UV-B stress in wheat. Of these six miRNAs, miR159, miR167a, and miR171 were significantly upregulated, and the remaining three miRNAs were downregulated, at different time points after UV-B treatment. This result indicates that miRNAs may be involved in the regulation of targets after induction by UV-B stress. Furthermore, promoter analysis of the UV-B-responsive miRNA genes revealed some light-relevant cis-elements, such as the I-box and G-box. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that wheat miRNAs play important roles in the response to UV-B stress.

Effect of increased UV-B radiation on carotenoid accumulation and total antioxidant capacity in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) leaves

“…The overproduction of ROS in living organisms under stressful conditions is potentially toxic because ROS may attack biomolecules such as lipids, proteins, and DNA, as well as some small molecules. As a result, oxidative damage or even organism death may occur (Wang et al, 2013). To cope with ROS toxicity, plant cells use numerous highly efficient antioxidant systems comprised of enzymatic and non-enzymatic constituents (Carletti et al, 2003).…”

Comparative analysis of MIR168 promoters in three plant species

“…miR168 plays a pivotal role as it regulates the expression of AGO1, a mechanism through which all microRNAs can down-regulate their targets Gazzani et al, 2009). In addition, miR168 is reportedly involved in the regulation of plant growth, fruit development, and response to different stresses, such as UV-B and aluminum, and is also up-regulated during viral infection in plants, during which it is ubiquitous in plant-virus interactions (Várallyay et al, 2010;Lima et al, 2011;Wang et al, 2013;Xian et al, 2014).…”

Characterization of microRNAs and their target genes associated with transcriptomic changes in gamma-irradiated Arabidopsis

“…For comparison, we performed a literature search to investigate what miRNAs respond to H 2 O 2 or UV-B radiation as well as ionizing radiation (Table 1); however, only a few articles could be identified. Expression of the miR156 and miR164 families was found to respond to UV-B radiation and carbon ions (Jia et al, 2009;Zhang et al, 2011a;Casati, 2013;Wang et al, 2013), while expression of the miR169 family was affected by UV-B radiation and H 2 O 2 (Zhou et al, 2007;Jia et al, 2009;Li et al, 2011). Previously, we demonstrated that genome-wide transcriptional changes in Arabidopsis seedlings subjected to gamma irradiation were most clear at 6 h and then decreased until 48 h (Kim et al, 2013b).…”

“…Distinctive cis-elements in the 5'-upstream sequences or putative promoter regions of UV-B-responsive miRNA genes have been identified in A. thaliana, Populus tremula, and Triticum aestivum (Zhou et al, 2007;Jia et al, 2009;Wang et al, 2013). Many of the UV-Bresponsive cis-elements including G-box, I-box core, ARE, and MBS were frequently found in the putative promoter regions of gamma-ray-responsive miRNA genes (Table 3).…”

“…In relation to UV-B radiation, various miRNA gene families, including miR156, miR159, miR160, miR164, miR167, miR169, miR395, and miR171, were identified as UV-B radiation-responsive genes in Arabidopsis thaliana, Populus tremula, and/ or Triticum aestivum (Zhou et al, 2007;Jia et al, 2009;Wang et al, 2013). UV-B-responsive miRNA genes were found to possess various light-responsive and stress-related cis-elements in their upstream regions.…”