Identification of the conserved and novel miRNAs in Mulberry by high-throughput sequencing

PLoS One. 2014 Aug 13;9(8):e104409. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104409. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

miRNAs are a class of non-coding endogenous small RNAs. They play vital roles in plant growth, development, and response to biotic and abiotic stress by negatively regulating genes. Mulberry trees are economically important species with multiple uses. However, to date, little is known about mulberry miRNAs and their target genes. In the present study, three small mulberry RNA libraries were constructed and sequenced using high-throughput sequencing technology. Results showed 85 conserved miRNAs belonging to 31 miRNA families and 262 novel miRNAs at 371 loci. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis confirmed the expression pattern of 9 conserved and 5 novel miRNAs in leaves, bark, and male flowers. A total of 332 potential target genes were predicted to be associated with these 113 novel miRNAs. These results provide a basis for further understanding of mulberry miRNAs and the biological processes in which they are involved.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Computational Biology
  • Conserved Sequence / genetics
  • Flowers / genetics
  • Flowers / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Library
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / methods*
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Morus / genetics*
  • Plant Bark / genetics
  • Plant Bark / metabolism
  • Plant Leaves / genetics
  • Plant Leaves / metabolism
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • MicroRNAs

Grants and funding

This project was funded by the research grants from the National Hi-Tech Research and Development Program of China (No. 2013AA100605-3), the “111” Project (B12006), the Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of Chongqing (Grant No. cstc2011jjjq0010), and Chong Qing Science & Technology Commission (NO. cstc2012jjys80001). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.