MicroRNAs Roles in Plants Secondary Metabolism

Plant Signal Behav. 2021 Jul 3;16(7):1915590. doi: 10.1080/15592324.2021.1915590. Epub 2021 May 3.

Abstract

Plant growth and development is dependent on the regulation of classes of microRNAs (miRNAs) that have emerged as important gene regulators. These miRNAs can regulate plant gene expression to function. They play an important roles in biological homeostasis and environmental response controls. A wide range of plant biological and metabolic processes, including developmental timing, tissues specific development, and differentiation, depends on miRNAs. They perpetually regulate secondary metabolite functions in different plant family lines. Mapping of molecular phylogenies shows the distribution of secondary metabolism in the plant territory. More importantly, a lot of information related to miRNA regulatory processes in plants is revealed, but the role of miRNAs in secondary metabolism regulation and functions of the metabolites are still unclear. In this review, we pinnacle some potential miRNAs regulating the secondary metabolite biosynthesis activities in plants. This will provide an alternative knowledge for functional studies of secondary metabolism.

Keywords: MicroRNAs; Secondary metabolism; molecular phylogenies; primary metabolism and.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • MicroRNAs / physiology*
  • Plants / genetics
  • Plants / metabolism*
  • RNA, Plant / physiology*
  • Secondary Metabolism / genetics*

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Plant

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, 31770743; 31971704 (http://www.nsfc.gov.cn) National Natural Science Foundation of China [31770743; 31971704].