microRNA参与植物次生代谢与非生物胁迫的调控

MiRNAs Involved in Plant Secondary Metabolism and Abiotic Stress Responses

微RNA(microRNA,miRNA)为广泛存在于真核生物中的约16~29个核苷酸长度的内源非编码单链RNA分子,在植物中参与细胞增殖、分化、代谢、器官形成以及抵御盐、温度、干旱、重金属胁迫等方面的调节。植物miRNA主要通过对靶基因降解或抑制靶基因的表达,影响植物的生长发育。目前对miRNA的产生与调控方式的研究较为清晰,且miRNA在植物次生代谢和响应非生物胁迫方面的具体作用和调控网络也得到了鉴定,这为充分理解miRNA的分子调控作用奠定了基础。为了更好地理解miRNA的表达调控特性,解读miRNA在植物次生代谢与非生物胁迫反应中的调控网络,本文综述了植物miRNA参与的次生代谢产物生物合成(黄酮类、萜类、生物碱)和响应环境压力(盐、高温、低温、干旱、重金属胁迫)的分子调控机制,总结了miRNA在次生代谢与非生物胁迫中基因表达的调控作用,这为理解环境压力与植物机体代谢之间的联系,深入研究miRNA维持植物机体稳态的调控机制、培育优良作物品种提供了可借鉴的参考。

MicroRNA(miRNA)is a class of endogenous non-coding single-stranded RNA molecules with a length of about 16~29 nucleotides.Widely found in eukaryotes,they play important regulatory roles in plant cell proliferation and differentiation,organ formation,metabolism,resistance to salt,temperature,drought,heavy metal stress,etc.Plant miRNA mainly affects plant growth and development by degrading target genes or inhibiting the expression of target genes at the translation level.At present,the research on the production and regulation of miRNA is relatively clear,and the specific roles and regulatory networks of miRNA in plant secondary metabolism and response to abiotic stress have also been identified,which lays the foundation for a full understanding of the molecular regulation of miRNA.In order to better understand the expression and regulation characteristics of miRNA and to interpret the regulatory network of miRNA in plant secondary metabolism and abiotic stress response,we review the molecular mechanisms of plant miRNAs in regulating the biosynthesis of various secondary metabolites(flavonoids,terpenoids,alkaloids)and responding to environmental stress(salt,high temperature,low temperature,drought,heavy metal stress),and summarize the regulatory roles of miRNA in secondary metabolism and abiotic stress,which will provide references for understanding the relationship between environmental stress and plant metabolism,for further studying the regulatory mechanism of miRNA in maintaining plant homeostasis,and for cultivating superior crop varieties.