Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of small non-coding RNAs that, in most cases, negatively regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Plant miRNAs have been implicated in developmental processes and adaptation to environmental stress including biotic and abiotic stresses. Here, we report a comprehensive analysis of miRNAs and associated target genes under banded leaf and sheath blight (BLSB) stress caused by R. solani in maize. Eight differentially expressed miRNAs were randomly selected from deep sequencing results and validated by qRT-PCR together with their putative target genes, most of which are transcription factors as well as metabolic genes involved in auxin signaling. The results revealed that majorities of the analyzed miRNAs show an inverse correlation with their corresponding predicted target genes. In addition, a putative regulatory network of miRNAs-mRNAs responsive to R. solani was constructed. This study provides insight into the regulatory functions of miRNAs, thereby expanding our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of pathogen resistance.
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Gao, J., Luo, M., Zhang, C. et al. A putative pathogen-resistant regulatory pathway between MicroRNAs and candidate target genes in maize. J. Plant Biol. 58, 211–219 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12374-014-0572-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12374-014-0572-5