title: Over-expression of sly-miR156a in tomato results in multiple vegetative and reproductive trait alterations and partial phenocopy of the sft mutant.
abstract: Plant microRNAs (miRNAs) are vital components of the translation control system that regulates plant development and reproduction. The biological function of sly-miR156 was investigated by over-expression in tomato plants. Transgenic tomato plants exhibited a drastically altered phenotype, with reduced height, smaller but more numerous leaves, and smaller fruit. The inflorescence structure of sly-miR156 over-expressing plants phenocopied the sft mutant. The putative targets of sly-miR156 were identified by data base search and included six SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN (SBP)-box transcription factor genes. Their expression patterns were then determined in 35S-miR156a and wild type tomato plants. These target genes, as well as the tomato FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) ortholog SFT, were significantly down-regulated in sly-miR156 over-expressing plants. These studies reveal novel phenotypes regulated by miR156.
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Xiaohui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Junhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yuyang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qinqin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Tixu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Xiaoguang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hanxia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhibiao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ye
mesh_terms: D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D014157:Transcription Factors