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Updated: Jul 13, 2026
06:16
mirMachine: A One-Stop Shop for Plant miRNA Annotation
Published on: May 1, 2021
Conservation and evolution of miRNA regulatory programs in plant development
Matthew R Willmann1, R Scott Poethig
1Plant Science Institute, Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6018, USA.
Current Opinion in Plant Biology
|August 22, 2007
Summary
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of plant development conserved across species, crucial for land colonization. Recent studies reveal functions of ancient miRNA pathways and highlight newly evolved, species-specific miRNAs with unknown roles.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Genomics
- Molecular genetics
Background:
- Microarray and sequencing technologies have generated extensive data on plant microRNAs (miRNAs) and their targets.
- A significant number of miRNA regulatory modules involved in plant development are conserved across the plant kingdom.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the roles of conserved and novel miRNAs in plant development.
- To understand the evolutionary significance of miRNA pathways in plant adaptation to land.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of small RNA and whole genome sequencing data.
- Genetic and biochemical studies in model organisms like Arabidopsis.
- Spatiotemporal expression pattern analysis of miRNAs and their targets.
- Characterization of mutations in Arabidopsis and maize.
Main Results:
- Conserved miRNA regulatory modules suggest ancient roles in plant development and land colonization.
- Studies in Arabidopsis and maize are elucidating functions of these ancient miRNA-regulated programs.
- Numerous clade and species-specific miRNAs have been identified, indicating more recent evolutionary events.
Conclusions:
- Conserved miRNAs played critical roles in early plant evolution and land adaptation.
- Ongoing research is uncovering the functions of both ancient conserved and newly evolved plant-specific miRNAs.
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