The Control of Developmental Phase Transitions by microRNAs and Their Targets in Seed Plants

Abstract

Seed plants usually undergo various developmental phase transitions throughout their lifespan, mainly including juvenile-to-adult and vegetative-to-reproductive transitions, as well as developmental transitions within organ/tissue formation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), as a class of small endogenous non-coding RNAs, are involved in the developmental phase transitions in plants by negatively regulating the expression of their target genes at the post-transcriptional level. In recent years, cumulative evidence has revealed that five miRNAs, miR156, miR159, miR166, miR172, and miR396, are key regulators of developmental phase transitions in plants. In this review, the advanced progress of the five miRNAs and their targets in regulating plant developmental transitions, especially in storage organ formation, are summarized and discussed, combining our own findings with the literature. In general, the functions of the five miRNAs and their targets are relatively conserved, but their functional divergences also emerge to some extent. In addition, potential research directions of miRNAs in regulating plant developmental phase transitions are prospected.

MiRNA expression profiling and zeatin dynamic changes in a new model system ofin vivoindirect regeneration of tomato

“…Recently great progress has been made in understanding the role of miRNAs in regulating the transitions between different development stage in plants, such as those from vegetative-to-reproductive, juvenile-to-adult and aerial stem-to-rhizome transitions[59–62]. In the present study, we demonstrate that miRNAs are involved in complex regulatory networks during stem-callus transition during in vivo regeneration of tomato.…”

“…Overall, these results indicated the complex regulaory relationships between miR166 and plant development. Further, Ma et al [62] reviewed five key microRNAs involved in developmental phase transitions in seed plant, and miR166 was one of them.…”

Integrated microRNA and transcriptome profiling reveal key miRNA-mRNA interaction pairs associated with seed development in Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum)

“…MiRNAs, a class negative regulators of gene expression, play key roles in numerous plant developmental processes including seed development [ 10 , 51 ]. However, it whether and how to regulate the development of Tartary buckwheat seed remains unexplored.…”

miRNA expression profiling and zeatin dynamic changes in a new model system of in vivo indirect regeneration of tomato

“…Recently great progress has been made in understanding the role of miRNAs in regulating the transitions between different development stage in plants, such as those from vegetative-to-reproductive, juvenile-to-adult and aerial stem-to-rhizome transitions [ 51 – 54 ]. In the present study, we demonstrate that miRNAs are involved in complex regulatory networks during stem-callus transition during in vivo regeneration of tomato.…”

“…Overall, these results indicated the complex regulaory relationships between miR166 and plant development. Further, Ma et al [ 54 ] reviewed five key microRNAs involved in developmental phase transitions in seed plant, and miR166 was one of them.…”