New opportunities for the regulation of secondary metabolism in plants: focus on microRNAs

Biotechnol Lett. 2015 Sep;37(9):1719-27. doi: 10.1007/s10529-015-1863-8. Epub 2015 May 24.

Abstract

Plant cell cultures are of particular interest in industrial applications as a source of biologically active substances. It is difficult, however, to achieve stable production of secondary metabolites for many plant cell cultures using classical techniques. Novel approaches should be developed for removal of the inhibitor blocks that prevent pathway activation and shift the regulatory balance to the activation of entire biosynthetic pathways. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs that play important regulatory roles in various biological processes. Only recently miRNAs have been demonstrated as active in secondary metabolism regulation. In this work, we summarize recent data on the emerging approaches based on regulation of secondary metabolism by miRNAs.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Plants / genetics*
  • Plants / metabolism
  • RNA, Plant / genetics
  • RNA, Plant / metabolism*
  • Secondary Metabolism*

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Plant