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Updated: May 7, 2026
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Using In Vitro and In-cell SHAPE to Investigate Small Molecule Induced Pre-mRNA Structural Changes
Published on: January 30, 2019
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Fungal small RNA: unveiling the breakthroughs and promising applications
Shuquan Sun1,2,3, Junjian Situ4, Chuan Gao1,2
1School of Environmental Engineering, Yellow River Conservancy Technical University, Kaifeng, Henan, China.
Frontiers in Fungal Biology
|May 6, 2026
Summary
Small RNAs (sRNAs) mediate gene regulation in eukaryotes. This review highlights cross-kingdom RNA interference (RNAi) between fungi and plants, focusing on sRNA trafficking and its role in plant pathology and crop protection.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Plant Pathology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Small RNAs (sRNAs) are crucial endogenous non-coding RNAs regulating gene expression in eukaryotes.
- Recent fungal sRNA research has advanced understanding of their biogenesis and function.
- Existing reviews primarily focus on intracellular fungal sRNA mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To bridge fungal sRNA molecular biology with plant pathology.
- To review fungal sRNA types, biogenesis, and intracellular functions.
- To analyze cross-kingdom RNAi, including sRNA trafficking and its impact on plant-fungal interactions.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of fungal sRNA research.
- Analysis of sRNA biogenesis pathways and protein factors.
- In-depth examination of sRNA trafficking mechanisms and functional consequences.
Main Results:
- Fungal sRNAs traffic into host plants, interfering with plant immune signaling.
- Plant-derived sRNAs reciprocally regulate fungal physiology.
- Novel fungal sRNA subtypes and their functions have been identified.
Conclusions:
- Cross-kingdom RNAi is a significant factor in plant-fungal pathosystems.
- Fungal sRNAs offer potential for biotechnological applications and crop protection via gene silencing strategies (HIGS/SIGS).
- This review fills critical literature gaps on fungal sRNA roles in plant-fungal interactions.
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