Regulation of low temperature stress in plants by microRNAs

Abstract

Low temperature is one of the most common environmental stresses that seriously affect the growth and development of plants. However, plants have the plasticity in their defence mechanisms enabling them to tolerate and, sometimes, even survive adverse environmental conditions. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs, approximately 18-24 nucleotides in length, and are being increasingly recognized as regulators of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level and have the ability to influence a broad range of biological processes. There is growing evidence in the literature that reprogramming of gene expression mediated through miRNAs is a major defence mechanism in plants enabling them to respond to stresses. To date, numerous studies have established the importance of miRNA-based regulation of gene expression under low temperature stress. Individual miRNAs can modulate the expression of multiple mRNA targets, and, therefore, the manipulation of a single miRNA has the potential to affect multiple biological processes. Numerous functional studies have attempted to identify the miRNA-target interactions and have elaborated the role of several miRNAs in cold-stress regulation. This review summarizes the current understanding of miRNA-mediated modulation of the expression of key genes as well as genetic and regulatory pathways, involved in low temperature stress responses in plants.

MicroRNA528, a hub regulator modulating ROS homeostasis via targeting of a diverse set of genes encoding copper‐containing proteins in monocots

“…The involvement in low temperature response has been demonstrated for a few copper (Cu)‐miRNAs (i.e. miR408, miR397 and miR398) (Megha et al ., ). The present contribution explored banana miRNAs in response to temperature stresses, including both cold and heat, and it was demonstrated that miR528 plays a vital role in stress response by targeting a few polyphenol oxidase ( PPO genes), which are the main contributors to the peel browning of banana fruit under cold stress.…”

Deep‐sequencing of Solanum commersonii small RNA libraries reveals riboregulators involved in cold stress response

“…Since their first establishment as transcriptional regulators involved in low temperature stress by Sunkar & Zhu () and with the advances in bioinformatics, several studies have revealed the importance of sncRNAs in different plant species in response to cold stress (reviewed by Megha et al . ). miRNAs have been described in cold‐sensitive S. tuberosum (Guo et al .…”

“…Although different plant species use different sets of miRNAs to respond to cold, a core of miRNAs is shared among most species (see Megha et al . and references therein). Of differentially expressed miRNAs identified in cmm1T under NACC conditions , only miR408 was previously implicated in response to low temperatures.…”

Keep calm and carry on: miRNA biogenesis under stress

“…A quick and effective response to environmental stimuli is essential for the proper acclimation of plants as sessile organisms. In this sense, many miRNAs have fundamental roles during the adaptation of plants to most biotic and abiotic stresses (Kumar, ; Megha et al ., ). In contrast to MIRNA genes that are transcriptionally regulated under stressful conditions, thus modifying the levels of the encoded miRNAs, the miRNA processing machinery was long believed to be ubiquitous and invariable in plants.…”