Long Non-Coding RNAs as Emerging Regulators of Pathogen Response in Plants

Abstract

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcripts without protein-coding potential that contain more than 200 nucleotides that play important roles in plant survival in response to different stresses. They interact with molecules such as DNA, RNA, and protein, and play roles in the regulation of chromatin remodeling, RNA metabolism, and protein modification activities. These lncRNAs regulate the expression of their downstream targets through epigenetic changes, at the level of transcription and post-transcription. Emerging information from computational biology and functional characterization of some of them has revealed their diverse mechanisms of action and possible roles in biological processes such as flowering time, reproductive organ development, as well as biotic and abiotic stress responses. In this review, we have mainly focused on the role of lncRNAs in biotic stress response due to the limited availability of knowledge in this domain. We have discussed the available molecular mechanisms of certain known lncRNAs against specific pathogens. Further, considering that fungal, viral, and bacterial diseases are major factors in the global food crisis, we have highlighted the importance of lncRNAs against pathogen responses and the progress in plant research to develop a better understanding of their functions and molecular mechanisms.

Analysis of the Arabidopsiscoilinmutant reveals a positive role of AtCOILIN in plant immunity

“…Since some long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known to be involved in plant responses to pathogens ( Sharma et al, 2022 ), we analyzed the transcriptome data to identify lncRNAs that are differentially expressed in Atcoilin mutant plants. From the total of 33,557 assembled unique transcripts, 27,416 protein coding transcripts and 965 small non-coding transcripts (miRNA, rRNA, snoRNA, snRNA, and tRNA) were subjected to filter for transcripts >200 bp.…”

Antisense Transcription in Plants: A Systematic Review and an Update on cis-NATs of Sugarcane

“…The TalncRNA73 detected in a suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) library in wheat in response to rust is an antisense of a hypothetical protein [ 118 ], whose function remains unknown [ 119 ]. In Malus × domestica , NATs were found in the ASGV (apple stem grooving virus) infection transcriptome [ 120 ].…”

Insight into the Roles of Proline-Rich Extensin-like Receptor Protein Kinases of Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

“…The homeologs of each PERK gene were predicted by performing a bidirectional BLAST hit method at e-value 10 −10 . Sequences with ≥90% similarity and localized on different sub-genomes were designated as homeologous as described in previous studies [19,28,29].…”