Molecular evolution and functional modification of plant miRNAs with CRISPR

Fenglin Deng; Fanrong Zeng; Qiufang Shen; Asad Abbas; Jianhui Cheng; Wei Jiang; Guang Chen; Adnan Noor Shah; Paul Holford; Mohsin Tanveer; Dabing Zhang; Zhong-Hua Chen

doi:10.1016/j.tplants.2022.01.009

Molecular evolution and functional modification of plant miRNAs with CRISPR

Trends Plant Sci. 2022 Sep;27(9):890-907. doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2022.01.009. Epub 2022 Feb 11.

Authors

Fenglin Deng¹, Fanrong Zeng¹, Qiufang Shen², Asad Abbas³, Jianhui Cheng¹, Wei Jiang¹, Guang Chen⁴, Adnan Noor Shah⁵, Paul Holford⁶, Mohsin Tanveer⁷, Dabing Zhang⁸, Zhong-Hua Chen⁹

Affiliations

¹ Collaborative Innovation Center for Grain Industry, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China.
² College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
³ School of Horticulture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
⁴ Central Laboratory, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Science, Hangzhou, China.
⁵ Department of Agricultural Engineering, Khawaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan, 64200, Pakistan.
⁶ School of Science, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
⁷ Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7004, Australia. Electronic address: Mohsin.tanveer@utas.edu.au.
⁸ Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; School of Agriculture, Food, and Wine, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA, Australia. Electronic address: Zhangdb@sjtu.edu.cn.
⁹ School of Science, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia; Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia. Electronic address: Z.Chen@westernsydney.edu.au.

PMID: 35165036
DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2022.01.009

Abstract

Gene editing using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat/CRISPR-associated proteins (CRISPR/Cas) has revolutionized biotechnology and provides genetic tools for medicine and life sciences. However, the application of this technology to miRNAs, with the function as negative gene regulators, has not been extensively reviewed in plants. Here, we summarize the evolution, biogenesis, and structure of miRNAs, as well as their interactions with mRNAs and computational models for predicting target genes. In addition, we review current advances in CRISPR/Cas for functional analysis and for modulating miRNA genes in plants. Extending our knowledge of miRNAs and their manipulation with CRISPR will provide fundamental understanding of the functions of plant miRNAs and facilitate more sustainable and publicly acceptable genetic engineering of crops.

Keywords: CRISPR/Cas; gene editing; miRNA–mRNA interactions; molecular evolution; phylogenetic analysis.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

CRISPR-Cas Systems* / genetics
Crops, Agricultural / genetics
Evolution, Molecular
Gene Editing
MicroRNAs* / genetics

Substances

MicroRNAs