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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
10:08
Experimental Design for Laser Microdissection RNA-Seq: Lessons from an Analysis of Maize Leaf Development
Published on: March 5, 2017
Genome-Wide Characterization of Long Non-Coding RNAs Identifies Candidate Regulatory Networks During Modern Maize
Zhongyu Wang1, Yang Yang1, Yating He1
1Biological Breeding Laboratory, Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Urumqi 830091, China.
Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 26, 2026
Summary
This study explores long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in maize breeding, identifying key lncRNAs and their associations with plant architecture and hormone signaling. These findings offer genetic resources for improving maize agronomic traits.
Area of Science:
- Plant Molecular Biology
- Genomics
- Maize Breeding
Background:
- Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are crucial regulators in plants, but their role in modern maize breeding is understudied.
- Understanding lncRNA dynamics across breeding eras can reveal insights into agronomic trait development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically characterize lncRNA expression in maize across different breeding eras.
- To identify lncRNAs associated with plant architecture and agronomic traits.
- To explore lncRNA regulatory networks in maize.
Main Methods:
- Transcriptome data analysis of 137 maize inbred lines from various breeding periods.
- Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) and cis-target analysis.
- Dual-luciferase reporter assays and construction of lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks.
Main Results:
- Identified 18,023 lncRNA transcripts, with 2228 differentially expressed between early and modern maize accessions.
- Discovered candidate lncRNAs and lncRNA-protein-coding gene (PCG) associations linked to plant architecture.
- Found 771 differentially expressed lncRNAs associated with protein-coding genes enriched in plant hormone signal transduction.
- Experimental validation confirmed lncRNA repression of ZmPIF5.2 promoter activity.
- Constructed a comprehensive lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interaction network.
Conclusions:
- This study provides a valuable resource of candidate lncRNAs and their associations for maize breeding.
- lncRNAs play a significant role in regulating plant architecture and hormone signaling pathways in maize.
- The findings offer insights into lncRNA functions related to agronomic traits and molecular breeding strategies.
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