Isolation, Purification, and Detection of Micro RNAs in Plant Senescence

Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA molecules that function in transcriptional level to regulate gene expression both in plants and animals. Increasing researches have shown that miRNAs are key regulators in plant development and stress responses, and emerging evidence indicates the potential role of miRNAs on plant senescence. In this chapter we summarize the daily methods used for identification and study of miRNAs in plants, including the isolation of total RNA, the purification of miRNAs, and the methods used to detect miRNAs in plants. The committed steps or modifications of these methods used in plant senescence research are noted.