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Zaheer U, Munir F, Salum YM, He W. Function and regulation of plant ARGONAUTE proteins in response to environmental challenges: a review. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17115. [PMID: 38560454 PMCID: PMC10979746 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Environmental stresses diversely affect multiple processes related to the growth, development, and yield of many crops worldwide. In response, plants have developed numerous sophisticated defense mechanisms at the cellular and subcellular levels to react and adapt to biotic and abiotic stressors. RNA silencing, which is an innate immune mechanism, mediates sequence-specific gene expression regulation in higher eukaryotes. ARGONAUTE (AGO) proteins are essential components of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). They bind to small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) and target complementary RNAs, causing translational repression or triggering endonucleolytic cleavage pathways. In this review, we aim to illustrate the recently published molecular functions, regulatory mechanisms, and biological roles of AGO family proteins in model plants and cash crops, especially in the defense against diverse biotic and abiotic stresses, which could be helpful in crop improvement and stress tolerance in various plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uroosa Zaheer
- Plant Protection, State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Plant Protection, International Joint Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Plant Protection, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Faisal Munir
- Plant Protection, State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Plant Protection, International Joint Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Plant Protection, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Yussuf Mohamed Salum
- Plant Protection, State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Plant Protection, International Joint Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Plant Protection, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Weiyi He
- Plant Protection, State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Plant Protection, International Joint Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Plant Protection, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
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Alvarez-Diaz JC, Richard MMS, Thareau V, Teano G, Paysant-Le-Roux C, Rigaill G, Pflieger S, Gratias A, Geffroy V. Genome-Wide Identification of Key Components of RNA Silencing in Two Phaseolus vulgaris Genotypes of Contrasting Origin and Their Expression Analyses in Response to Fungal Infection. Genes (Basel) 2021; 13:genes13010064. [PMID: 35052407 PMCID: PMC8774654 DOI: 10.3390/genes13010064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA silencing serves key roles in a multitude of cellular processes, including development, stress responses, metabolism, and maintenance of genome integrity. Dicer, Argonaute (AGO), double-stranded RNA binding (DRB) proteins, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDR), and DNA-dependent RNA polymerases known as Pol IV and Pol V form core components to trigger RNA silencing. Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is an important staple crop worldwide. In this study, we aimed to unravel the components of the RNA-guided silencing pathway in this non-model plant, taking advantage of the availability of two genome assemblies of Andean and Meso-American origin. We identified six PvDCLs, thirteen PvAGOs, 10 PvDRBs, 5 PvRDRs, in both genotypes, suggesting no recent gene amplification or deletion after the gene pool separation. In addition, we identified one PvNRPD1 and one PvNRPE1 encoding the largest subunits of Pol IV and Pol V, respectively. These genes were categorized into subgroups based on phylogenetic analyses. Comprehensive analyses of gene structure, genomic localization, and similarity among these genes were performed. Their expression patterns were investigated by means of expression models in different organs using online data and quantitative RT-PCR after pathogen infection. Several of the candidate genes were up-regulated after infection with the fungus Colletotrichum lindemuthianum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan C. Alvarez-Diaz
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, Université Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91405 Orsay, France; (J.C.A.-D.); (M.M.S.R.); (V.T.); (G.T.); (C.P.-L.-R.); (G.R.); (S.P.); (A.G.)
- Université de Paris, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris Saclay (IPS2), 91405 Orsay, France
| | - Manon M. S. Richard
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, Université Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91405 Orsay, France; (J.C.A.-D.); (M.M.S.R.); (V.T.); (G.T.); (C.P.-L.-R.); (G.R.); (S.P.); (A.G.)
- Université de Paris, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris Saclay (IPS2), 91405 Orsay, France
- Molecular Plant Pathology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS), University of Amsterdam, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Vincent Thareau
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, Université Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91405 Orsay, France; (J.C.A.-D.); (M.M.S.R.); (V.T.); (G.T.); (C.P.-L.-R.); (G.R.); (S.P.); (A.G.)
- Université de Paris, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris Saclay (IPS2), 91405 Orsay, France
| | - Gianluca Teano
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, Université Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91405 Orsay, France; (J.C.A.-D.); (M.M.S.R.); (V.T.); (G.T.); (C.P.-L.-R.); (G.R.); (S.P.); (A.G.)
- Université de Paris, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris Saclay (IPS2), 91405 Orsay, France
| | - Christine Paysant-Le-Roux
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, Université Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91405 Orsay, France; (J.C.A.-D.); (M.M.S.R.); (V.T.); (G.T.); (C.P.-L.-R.); (G.R.); (S.P.); (A.G.)
- Université de Paris, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris Saclay (IPS2), 91405 Orsay, France
| | - Guillem Rigaill
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, Université Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91405 Orsay, France; (J.C.A.-D.); (M.M.S.R.); (V.T.); (G.T.); (C.P.-L.-R.); (G.R.); (S.P.); (A.G.)
- Université de Paris, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris Saclay (IPS2), 91405 Orsay, France
- Laboratoire de Mathématiques et Modélisation d’Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Université Evry, INRAE, 91037 Evry, France
| | - Stéphanie Pflieger
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, Université Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91405 Orsay, France; (J.C.A.-D.); (M.M.S.R.); (V.T.); (G.T.); (C.P.-L.-R.); (G.R.); (S.P.); (A.G.)
- Université de Paris, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris Saclay (IPS2), 91405 Orsay, France
| | - Ariane Gratias
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, Université Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91405 Orsay, France; (J.C.A.-D.); (M.M.S.R.); (V.T.); (G.T.); (C.P.-L.-R.); (G.R.); (S.P.); (A.G.)
- Université de Paris, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris Saclay (IPS2), 91405 Orsay, France
| | - Valérie Geffroy
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, Université Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91405 Orsay, France; (J.C.A.-D.); (M.M.S.R.); (V.T.); (G.T.); (C.P.-L.-R.); (G.R.); (S.P.); (A.G.)
- Université de Paris, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris Saclay (IPS2), 91405 Orsay, France
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-1-69-15-33-65
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Cardoso TCDS, de Araújo CB, Portilho LG, Mendes LGA, Alves TC, Silva GC, Ribeiro THC, Gandolfi PE, Morais ER, do Amaral LR, Gomes MDS. Computational prediction and characterisation of miRNAs and their pathway genes in human schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma haematobium. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2020; 115:e190378. [PMID: 32401998 PMCID: PMC7207159 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760190378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Key genes control the infectivity of the Schistosoma haematobium causing schistosomiasis. A method for understanding the regulation of these genes might help in developing new disease strategies to control schistosomiasis, such as the silencing mediated by microRNAs (miRNAs). The miRNAs have been studied in schistosome species and they play important roles in the post-transcriptional regulation of genes, and in parasite-host interactions. However, genome-wide identification and characterisation of novel miRNAs and their pathway genes and their gene expression have not been explored deeply in the genome and transcriptome of S. haematobium. OBJECTIVES Identify and characterise mature and precursor miRNAs and their pathway genes in the S. haematobium genome. METHODS Computational prediction and characterisation of miRNAs and genes involved in miRNA pathway from S. haematobium genome on SchistoDB. Conserved domain analysis was performed using PFAM and CDD databases. A robust algorithm was applied to identify mature miRNAs and their precursors. The characterisation of the precursor miRNAs was performed using RNAfold, RNAalifold and Perl scripts. FINDINGS We identified and characterised 14 putative proteins involved in miRNA pathway including ARGONAUTE and DICER in S. haematobium. Besides that, 149 mature miRNAs and 131 precursor miRNAs were identified in the genome including novel miRNAs. MAIN CONCLUSIONS miRNA pathway occurs in the S. haematobium, including endogenous miRNAs and miRNA pathway components, suggesting a role of this type of non-coding RNAs in gene regulation in the parasite. The results found in this work will open up a new avenue for studying miRNAs in the S. haematobium biology in helping to understand the mechanism of gene silencing in the human parasite Schistosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaís Cunha de Sousa Cardoso
- Laboratório de Bioinformática e Análises Moleculares, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Patos de Minas, MG, Brazil
| | - Carlos Bruno de Araújo
- Laboratório de Bioinformática e Análises Moleculares, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Patos de Minas, MG, Brazil
| | - Laysa Gomes Portilho
- Laboratório de Bioinformática e Análises Moleculares, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Patos de Minas, MG, Brazil
| | - Luiz Guilherme Alves Mendes
- Laboratório de Bioinformática e Análises Moleculares, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Patos de Minas, MG, Brazil
| | - Tamires Caixeta Alves
- Laboratório de Bioinformática e Análises Moleculares, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Patos de Minas, MG, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Caetano Silva
- Laboratório de Bioinformática e Análises Moleculares, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Patos de Minas, MG, Brazil
| | - Thales Henrique Cherubino Ribeiro
- Laboratório de Fisiologia Molecular de Plantas, Departamento de Biologia, Setor de Fisiologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, MG, Brasil
| | - Peterson Elizandro Gandolfi
- Laboratório de Bioinformática e Análises Moleculares, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Patos de Minas, MG, Brazil
| | - Enyara Rezende Morais
- Laboratório de Bioinformática e Análises Moleculares, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Patos de Minas, MG, Brazil
| | - Laurence Rodrigues do Amaral
- Laboratório de Bioinformática e Análises Moleculares, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Patos de Minas, MG, Brazil
| | - Matheus de Souza Gomes
- Laboratório de Bioinformática e Análises Moleculares, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Patos de Minas, MG, Brazil
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Abla M, Sun H, Li Z, Wei C, Gao F, Zhou Y, Feng J. Identification of miRNAs and Their Response to Cold Stress in Astragalus Membranaceus. Biomolecules 2019; 9:biom9050182. [PMID: 31083391 PMCID: PMC6572118 DOI: 10.3390/biom9050182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Astragalus membranaceus is an important medicinal plant widely cultivated in East Asia. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous regulatory molecules that play essential roles in plant growth, development, and the response to environmental stresses. Cold is one of the key environmental factors affecting the yield and quality of A. membranaceus, and miRNAs may mediate the gene regulation network under cold stress in A. membranaceus. To identify miRNAs and reveal their functions in cold stress response in A. membranaceus, small RNA sequencing was conducted followed by bioinformatics analysis, and quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis was performed to profile the expression of miRNAs under cold stress. A total of 168 conserved miRNAs belonging to 34 families and 14 putative non-conserved miRNAs were identified. Many miRNA targets were predicted and these targets were involved in diversified regulatory and metabolic pathways. By using qRT-PCR, 27 miRNAs were found to be responsive to cold stress, including 4 cold stress-induced and 17 cold-repressed conserved miRNAs, and 6 cold-induced non-conserved miRNAs. These cold-responsive miRNAs probably mediate the response to cold stress by regulating development, hormone signaling, defense, redox homeostasis, and secondary metabolism in A. membranaceus. These cold-corresponsive miRNAs may be used as the candidate genes in further molecular breeding for improving cold tolerance of A. membranaceus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merhaba Abla
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Huigai Sun
- School of Pharmacology, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China.
| | - Zhuyun Li
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Chunxiang Wei
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Fei Gao
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Yijun Zhou
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Jinchao Feng
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China.
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RNA Interference: A Natural Immune System of Plants to Counteract Biotic Stressors. Cells 2019; 8:cells8010038. [PMID: 30634662 PMCID: PMC6356646 DOI: 10.3390/cells8010038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 01/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
During plant-pathogen interactions, plants have to defend the living transposable elements from pathogens. In response to such elements, plants activate a variety of defense mechanisms to counteract the aggressiveness of biotic stressors. RNA interference (RNAi) is a key biological process in plants to inhibit gene expression both transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally, using three different groups of proteins to resist the virulence of pathogens. However, pathogens trigger an anti-silencing mechanism through the expression of suppressors to block host RNAi. The disruption of the silencing mechanism is a virulence strategy of pathogens to promote infection in the invaded hosts. In this review, we summarize the RNA silencing pathway, anti-silencing suppressors, and counter-defenses of plants to viral, fungal, and bacterial pathogens.
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Cardoso TCDS, Alves TC, Caneschi CM, Santana DDRG, Fernandes-Brum CN, Reis GLD, Daude MM, Ribeiro THC, Gómez MMD, Lima AA, Gomes LAA, Gomes MDS, Gandolfi PE, Amaral LRD, Chalfun-Júnior A, Maluf WR, de Souza Gomes M. New insights into tomato microRNAs. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16069. [PMID: 30375421 PMCID: PMC6207730 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-34202-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cultivated tomato, Solanum lycopersicum, is one of the most common fruits in the global food industry. Together with the wild tomato Solanum pennellii, it is widely used for developing better cultivars. MicroRNAs affect mRNA regulation, inhibiting its translation and/or promoting its degradation. Important proteins involved in these processes are ARGONAUTE and DICER. This study aimed to identify and characterize the genes involved in the miRNA processing pathway, miRNA molecules and target genes in both species. We validated the presence of pathway genes and miRNA in different NGS libraries and 6 miRNA families using quantitative RT-PCR. We identified 71 putative proteins in S. lycopersicum and 108 in S. pennellii likely involved in small RNAs processing. Of these, 29 and 32 participate in miRNA processing pathways, respectively. We identified 343 mature miRNAs, 226 pre-miRNAs in 87 families, including 192 miRNAs, which were not previously identified, belonging to 38 new families in S. lycopersicum. In S. pennellii, we found 388 mature miRNAs and 234 pre-miRNAs contained in 85 families. All miRNAs found in S. pennellii were unpublished, being identified for the first time in our study. Furthermore, we identified 2471 and 3462 different miRNA target in S. lycopersicum and S. pennellii, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaís Cunha de Sousa Cardoso
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular Analysis, Federal University of Uberlandia (UFU), Campus Patos de Minas, 38700-128, Patos de Minas, Brazil
| | - Tamires Caixeta Alves
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular Analysis, Federal University of Uberlandia (UFU), Campus Patos de Minas, 38700-128, Patos de Minas, Brazil
| | - Carolina Milagres Caneschi
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular Analysis, Federal University of Uberlandia (UFU), Campus Patos de Minas, 38700-128, Patos de Minas, Brazil
| | - Douglas Dos Reis Gomes Santana
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular Analysis, Federal University of Uberlandia (UFU), Campus Patos de Minas, 38700-128, Patos de Minas, Brazil
| | | | - Gabriel Lasmar Dos Reis
- Department of Agriculture, Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), Lavras, 37 - 37200-000, Brazil
| | - Matheus Martins Daude
- Laboratory of Molecular Analysis, Federal University of Tocantins (UFT), Gurupi, 77402-970, Brazil
| | | | - Miguel Maurício Díaz Gómez
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular Analysis, Federal University of Uberlandia (UFU), Campus Patos de Minas, 38700-128, Patos de Minas, Brazil
| | - André Almeida Lima
- Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), Lavras, 3037 - 37200-000, Brazil
| | | | - Marcos de Souza Gomes
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular Analysis, Federal University of Uberlandia (UFU), Campus Patos de Minas, 38700-128, Patos de Minas, Brazil
| | - Peterson Elizandro Gandolfi
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular Analysis, Federal University of Uberlandia (UFU), Campus Patos de Minas, 38700-128, Patos de Minas, Brazil
| | - Laurence Rodrigues do Amaral
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular Analysis, Federal University of Uberlandia (UFU), Campus Patos de Minas, 38700-128, Patos de Minas, Brazil
| | - Antonio Chalfun-Júnior
- Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), Lavras, 3037 - 37200-000, Brazil
| | - Wilson Roberto Maluf
- Department of Agriculture, Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), Lavras, 37 - 37200-000, Brazil
| | - Matheus de Souza Gomes
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular Analysis, Federal University of Uberlandia (UFU), Campus Patos de Minas, 38700-128, Patos de Minas, Brazil.
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Noronha Fernandes-Brum C, Marinho Rezende P, Cherubino Ribeiro TH, Ricon de Oliveira R, Cunha de Sousa Cardoso T, Rodrigues do Amaral L, de Souza Gomes M, Chalfun-Junior A. A genome-wide analysis of the RNA-guided silencing pathway in coffee reveals insights into its regulatory mechanisms. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0176333. [PMID: 28448529 PMCID: PMC5407642 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2016] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
microRNAs (miRNAs) are derived from self-complementary hairpin structures, while small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are derived from double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) or hairpin precursors. The core mechanism of sRNA production involves DICER-like (DCL) in processing the smallRNAs (sRNAs) and ARGONAUTE (AGO) as effectors of silencing, and siRNA biogenesis also involves action of RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase (RDR), Pol IV and Pol V in biogenesis. Several other proteins interact with the core proteins to guide sRNA biogenesis, action, and turnover. We aimed to unravel the components and functions of the RNA-guided silencing pathway in a non-model plant species of worldwide economic relevance. The sRNA-guided silencing complex members have been identified in the Coffea canephora genome, and they have been characterized at the structural, functional, and evolutionary levels by computational analyses. Eleven AGO proteins, nine DCL proteins (which include a DCL1-like protein that was not previously annotated), and eight RDR proteins were identified. Another 48 proteins implicated in smallRNA (sRNA) pathways were also identified. Furthermore, we identified 235 miRNA precursors and 317 mature miRNAs from 113 MIR families, and we characterized ccp-MIR156, ccp-MIR172, and ccp-MIR390. Target prediction and gene ontology analyses of 2239 putative targets showed that significant pathways in coffee are targeted by miRNAs. We provide evidence of the expansion of the loci related to sRNA pathways, insights into the activities of these proteins by domain and catalytic site analyses, and gene expression analysis. The number of MIR loci and their targeted pathways highlight the importance of miRNAs in coffee. We identified several roles of sRNAs in C. canephora, which offers substantial insight into better understanding the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of this major crop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Noronha Fernandes-Brum
- Department of Biology, Section of Plant Physiology, Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology (LFMP), Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Pâmela Marinho Rezende
- Department of Biology, Section of Plant Physiology, Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology (LFMP), Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Thales Henrique Cherubino Ribeiro
- Department of Biology, Section of Plant Physiology, Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology (LFMP), Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Thaís Cunha de Sousa Cardoso
- Institute of Genetics and Biochemistry (INGEB),Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular Analysis (LBAM), Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU)- Campus Patos de Minas, Patos de Minas, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Laurence Rodrigues do Amaral
- Institute of Genetics and Biochemistry (INGEB),Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular Analysis (LBAM), Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU)- Campus Patos de Minas, Patos de Minas, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Matheus de Souza Gomes
- Institute of Genetics and Biochemistry (INGEB),Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular Analysis (LBAM), Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU)- Campus Patos de Minas, Patos de Minas, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Antonio Chalfun-Junior
- Department of Biology, Section of Plant Physiology, Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology (LFMP), Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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