microRNAs在植物发育调控中的功能研究进展

Research Progress of microRNAs Functions in Regulating the Development of Plants

microRNAs是一类22nt左右的非编码RNA,最早在线虫中发现。目前认为,其在动物、植物、细菌以及病毒的发育调控中起到重要作用。它在细胞内的调控方式包括指导mRNA降解、转录抑制、染色体修饰。在植物体内,它能够通过与其目标基因的互补序列结合,降解其目标基因,达到对细胞代谢进行调控的目的。miRNAs作用的目标基因主要是转录因子。miRNAs对于植物分生组织正常调控功能行使、维管束正确发育、叶子极性形成和激素反应等都是必须的,并受到发育和环境的调控。本文综述了植物miRNAs在细胞发育中的作用。

microRNAs are single-standed RNA molecules about 22nt in length, and were first found in C. elegans. They play an important regulatory roles in animals, plants, bacteria and virus development. They have recently emerged as important regulators of mRNA degradation, translational repression, and chromatin modification. In planta, they can complement to homologous mRNA to reduce the expression of target genes, and their target genes are more of transcription factors. It is found that they are required for meristem function, vascular development, leaf polarity and hormone response, and they are developmentally or environmentally regulated. The article briefly describes the functions ofmiRNAs in plant cell metabolization .