New opportunities for the regulation of secondary metabolism in plants: focus on microRNAs

Abstract

Plant cell cultures are of particular interest in industrial applications as a source of biologically active substances. It is difficult, however, to achieve stable production of secondary metabolites for many plant cell cultures using classical techniques. Novel approaches should be developed for removal of the inhibitor blocks that prevent pathway activation and shift the regulatory balance to the activation of entire biosynthetic pathways. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs that play important regulatory roles in various biological processes. Only recently miRNAs have been demonstrated as active in secondary metabolism regulation. In this work, we summarize recent data on the emerging approaches based on regulation of secondary metabolism by miRNAs.

MicroRNA and Transcription Factor: Key Players in Plant Regulatory Network

“…As miRNAs has been found to be related in secondary metabolite regulation which need to be further explored (Bulgakov and Avramenko, 2015). In Arabidopsis , the interaction between miR156 and SPL resulted in the negative regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis (Gou et al, 2011).…”

Contemporary Understanding of miRNA-Based Regulation of Secondary Metabolites Biosynthesis in Plants

“…Taking into account the regulatory roles of miRNAs, modification in the expression of such miRNAs would be a promising approach to modulate the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in plants. SPL9 and TCP3 transcription factors play a major role in secondary metabolism regulation (Gou et al, 2011; Li and Zachgo, 2013) and therefore miRNAs targeting these genes would be an ideal candidate for such approach (Bulgakov and Avramenko, 2015). Nevertheless, identifying and understanding the spatial and temporal expression schema of other miRNAs that might regulate the flux movement at the branch point of primary vs. secondary metabolic pathway and/or secondary metabolic pathway alone would help designing better strategies to favor the biosynthesis of economically important secondary metabolites.…”

“…miRNAs are well-known molecules for their role in regulating various plants processes under biotic and abiotic stresses (Gupta et al, 2014a,b; Shriram et al, 2016). Recently, various reports suggested their roles in regulating the biosynthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites in plants (see review Bulgakov and Avramenko, 2015). In the present review, we have updated the knowledge about present understanding on miRNAs based regulation of biosynthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites in plants.…”

Meristem Plant Cells as a Sustainable Source of Redox Actives for Skin Rejuvenation

“…Recent advances in plant cell cultivation, including high-density suspension cultivation and continuous culture, manipulation of environmental factors and of the supply of precursors and oxygen, elimination of final metabolites, challenge by appropriate elicitors, and selected cell culture scale-up have provided breakthrough and hopes for a highly standardised production of secondary metabolites of pharmaceutical and cosmetic value [26]. The emerging approaches based on secondary metabolism regulation in plant cell cultures by microRNAs open huge perspectives in the induction and stable production of valuable substances [27]. Further developments in the bioreactor cultivation processes, and in the metabolic engineering of plant cells for metabolite production are expected in the near future [28,29,30,31,32].…”