The Potential Application of microRNA-mediated Gene Regulation in Crop Improvement

doi:10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2016.04.001

Abstract

Abstract: Plant microRNAs（miRNAs）are small RNAs of approximate 22 nt，endogenous，single-strand，and non-coding. They play regulatory roles at post-transcription level by inhibiting translation or promoting the degradation of target mRNAs. With the advances in high-throughput sequencing technology and a variety of research techniques，more and more microRNAs have been predicted and validated，which provide a rich candidate gene resources for crop improvement through genetic engineering. This review highlights the recent advances in studies of biotic stress，abiotic stress，as well as plant growth and development，and then analyzes the potential of miRNA-mediated gene regulation for crop improvement. In addition，several transgenic technologies for genetically modified crops in plant genetic engineering with miRNA-based gene regulation are introduced，including RNAi of target gene，artificial miRNAs（amiRNAs），target mimics（TM）and over-expressing miRNA-resistant targets. Also the potential risks and challenges of miRNA-based genetic modification technology are discussed.

Key words: microRNAs, target gene, crop improvement, RNAi, amiRNAs, target mimics, miRNA-resistant targets

LIU Wei-can ,ZHOU Yong-gang, WANG Xing-chao, WANG Fa-wei, WANG Nan, DONG Yuan-yuan, LI Xiao-wei, LI Hai-yan. The Potential Application of microRNA-mediated Gene Regulation in Crop Improvement[J]. Biotechnology Bulletin, 2016, 32(4): 6-15.

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