Comparative analysis of the miRNA171-mediated gene regulation in land plants

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Wolfgang Frank
• Co-Applicants: Dr. Tzahi Arazi; Dr. Rezq A.S. Basheer-Salimia
• Subject Area: Plant Genetics and Genomics
• Term: from 2009 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 127570379

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs which bind to complementary sequence motifs within their cognate target RNAs thereby directing target RNA cleavage or translational inhibition. The analysis of miRNAs from different plant species indicated the presence of deeply conserved miRNAs. Furthermore, it is evident that conserved miRNAs control mRNAs belonging to the same gene family implying a conservation of particular miRNA-controlled pathways throughout land plant evolution. The functional analysis of conserved miRNAs in Arabidopsis thaliana revealed that all except one are required to control specific developmental programs. However, to date, a comprehensive analysis of the conserved miR171 targeting mRNAs encoding GRAS domain transcription factors is missing. Furthermore, miRNA functions were analysed in seed plants such as Arabidopsis and rice whereas a comparative analysis including a distantly related land plant such as the moss Physcomitrella patens is missing. The proposed research project aims at the elucidation of the regulatory networks controlled by miR171 through the generation of miR171 de-regulated transgenic plants in the seed plant tomato (Solanum lycpersicum) and the bryophyte Physcomitrella patens.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Israel, Palestine