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MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

mirMachine: A One-Stop Shop for Plant miRNA Annotation

mirMachine: A One-Stop Shop for Plant miRNA Annotation

Published on: May 1, 2021

Evolution and functional diversification of MIRNA genes.

Josh T Cuperus¹, Noah Fahlgren, James C Carrington

¹Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA.

|February 15, 2011

Summary

Plant microRNAs (miRNAs) evolve rapidly, with most gene families being species-specific. Young miRNAs often show neutral evolution and varied functionality, highlighting dynamic miRNA regulation in plants.

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Area of Science:

Plant biology
Molecular evolution
Genomics

Background:

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small regulatory RNAs crucial for gene expression in eukaryotes.
In plants, most miRNA gene families are young and species-specific, unlike conserved ancient miRNAs.
This suggests a dynamic evolutionary process of miRNA birth and loss in plants.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the evolutionary dynamics and functional diversification of plant microRNA genes.
To understand the characteristics of young versus ancient miRNA loci in plants.
To explore how variations in miRNA processing and structure contribute to regulatory diversity.

Main Methods:

Genome-wide analyses of plant species.
Comparative genomics of MIRNA gene families.
Analysis of miRNA expression, processing efficiency, and sequence variation.

Main Results:

The majority of plant MIRNA genes are young and species-specific, indicating recent evolutionary origins.
Young miRNAs exhibit characteristics like weak expression, imprecise processing, and neutral variation.
Variations in miRNA foldback structure and processing influence MIRNA locus functionality and miRNA diversity.

Conclusions:

Plant miRNA evolution is characterized by frequent birth and loss of young gene families.
The functional diversity of plant miRNAs arises from variations in their processing and regulatory roles.
miRNA-based gene regulation in plants is a dynamic and evolving process.