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Review
. 2021 Dec;18(12):2087-2096.
doi: 10.1080/15476286.2021.1899491. Epub 2021 Mar 17.

Recent advances in the regulation of plant miRNA biogenesis

Mu Li  1 , Bin Yu  1
Affiliations
Review

Recent advances in the regulation of plant miRNA biogenesis

Mu Li et al. RNA Biol. 2021 Dec.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are essential non-coding riboregulators of gene expression in plants and animals. In plants, miRNAs guide their effector protein named ARGONAUTE (AGO) to find target RNAs for gene silencing through target RNA cleavage or translational inhibition. miRNAs are derived from primary miRNA transcripts (pri-miRNAs), most of which are transcribed by the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II. In plants, an RNase III enzyme DICER-LIKE1-containing complex processes pri-miRNAs in the nucleus into miRNAs. To ensure proper function of miRNAs, plants use multiple mechanisms to control miRNA accumulation. On one hand, pri-miRNA levels are controlled through transcription and stability. On the other hand, the activities of the DCL1 complex are regulated by many protein factors at transcriptional, post-transcriptional and post-translational levels. Notably, recent studies reveal that pri-miRNA structure/sequence features and modifications also play important roles in miRNA biogenesis. In this review, we summarize recent progresses on the mechanisms regulating miRNA biogenesis.

Keywords: Plant miRNA biogenesis; dcl1; pri-miRNA processing; pri-miRNA stability; pri-miRNA transcription.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Regulation of MIR transcription
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Regulation of pri-miRNA stability
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Regulation of pri-miRNA processing
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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