Barley Stripe Mosaic Virus (BSMV) Induced MicroRNA Silencing in Common Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

PLoS One. 2015 May 8;10(5):e0126621. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126621. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in growth, development, and response to environmental changes in plants. Based on the whole-genome shotgun sequencing strategy, more and more wheat miRNAs have been annotated. Now, there is a need for an effective technology to analyse endogenous miRNAs function in wheat. We report here that the modified barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV)-induced miRNAs silencing system can be utilized to silence miRNAs in wheat. BSMV-based miRNA silencing system is performed through BSMV-based expression of miRNA target mimics to suppress miR159a and miR3134a. The relative expression levels of mature miR159a and miR3134a decrease with increasing transcript levels of their target genes in wheat plants. In summary, the developed approach is effective in silencing endogenous miRNAs, thereby providing a powerful tool for biological function analyses of miRNA molecules in common wheat.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Gene Silencing
  • Genes, Plant
  • Genetic Vectors
  • MicroRNAs / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Mosaic Viruses / genetics
  • Mosaic Viruses / physiology*
  • RNA, Plant / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Triticum / genetics*
  • Triticum / virology

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Plant

Grants and funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of National Basic Research Program of China (973 program) (2013CB127805), Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest (201203037), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.