title: The developmental role of microRNA in plants.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are single-stranded RNA molecules of around 22 nucleotides (nt) in length that are associated with the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). They play an important role in plant development, either by targeting mRNA for cleavage or by inhibiting translation. Over the past year, the list of known miRNAs, confirmed targets and developmental effects has expanded, as has the realization that they are conserved during evolution and that small RNAs can play a direct role in cell-cell signaling.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, Edinburgh University, EH9 3JR, UK.
authors.forename: Catherine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Kidner
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Martienssen
mesh_terms: D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000502:physiology; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000502:physiology; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000502:physiology*; D063245:Plant Development; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000502:physiology*; D034743:RNA-Induced Silencing Complex
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D018749:RNA, Plant; D034743:RNA-Induced Silencing Complex