Origin and evolution of MIR1444 genes in Salicaceae

miR1444s are functionally significant miRNAs targeting polyphenol oxidase (PPO) genes for cleavage. MIR1444 genes were reported only in Populus trichocarpa. Through the computational analysis of 215 RNA-seq data, four whole genome sequences of Salicaceae species and deep sequencing of six P. trichocarpa small RNA libraries, we investigated the origin and evolution history of MIR1444s. A total of 23 MIR1444s were identified. Populus and Idesia species contain two MIR1444 genes, while Salix includes only one. Populus and Idesia MIR1444b genes and Salix MIR1444s were phylogenetically separated from Populus and Idesia MIR1444a genes. Ptr-miR1444a and ptr-miR1444b showed sequence divergence. Compared with ptr-miR1444b, ptr-miR1444a started 2 nt upstream of precursor, resulting in differential regulation of PPO targets. Sequence alignments showed that MIR1444 genes exhibited extensive similarity to their PPO targets, the characteristics of MIRs originated from targets through an inverted gene duplication event. Genome sequence comparison showed that MIR1444 genes in Populus and Idesia were expanded through the Salicoid genome duplication event. A copy of MIR1444 gene was lost in Salix through DNA segment deletion during chromosome rearrangements. The results provide significant information for the origin of plant miRNAs and the mechanism of Salicaceae gene evolution and divergence.