title: MicroRNA misregulation: an overlooked factor generating somaclonal variation?
abstract: Somaclonal variation is an important phenomenon that can be observed at high levels in plant tissue culture. Although known to science since plant cell culture techniques were first developed, its origins remain mysterious. Here, we propose that misregulation of microRNAs and small RNA pathways can make a significant contribution to the phenomenon. For many reasons, microRNAs and related small RNAs appear ideal candidates. Their mode of action gives them disproportionate influence over the transcriptome, proteome and epigenome. They regulate important developmental and physiological events such as meristem formation, phase changes and hormone responses. However, the genomic locations of microRNA genes and their unique biogenesis might make them unusually susceptible to aberrant regulation in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Universitario de Bioorganica Antonio González, Universidad de La Laguna, 38206 La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Enriquez
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Dickinson
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Grant-Downton
mesh_terms: D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D014644:Genetic Variation; D018745:Genome, Plant; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010641:Phenotype; D063245:Plant Development; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics*; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs