title: Identification and comparative analysis of microRNAs associated with low-N tolerance in rice genotypes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nitrogen [N] is a critical limiting nutrient for plants and has to be exogenously supplied to many crops, to achieve high yield with significant economic and environmental costs, specifically for rice. Development of low-input nitrogen sustainable crop is necessary for sustainable agriculture. Identification of regulatory elements associated with low-N tolerance is imperative for formulating innovative approaches for developing low-N tolerant crop plants, using gene manipulation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known to play crucial roles in the modulation of gene expression in plants under various environmental conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MiRNAs associated with low-N tolerance have not been identified so far. In this study, we investigated microarray-based miRNA expression in low-N tolerant and low-N sensitive rice genotypes under low N condition. Expressions of 32 miRNAs differed significantly in the two genotypes. Of these 32 miRNAs, expressions of nine miRNAs were further validated experimentally in leaves as well as in roots. Of these differentially expressed miRNAs, six miRNAs (miR156, miR164, miR528, miR820, miR821 and miR1318) were reported in leaves and four (miR164, miR167, miR168 and miR528) in roots. Target genes of all the 32 miRNAs were predicted, which encode transcription factors, and proteins associated with metabolic processes or stress responses. Expression levels of some of the corresponding miRNA targets were analysed and found to be significantly higher in low N-tolerant genotype than low-N sensitive genotype. These findings suggested that miRNAs played an important role in low-N tolerance in rice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Genome-wide differences in expression of miRNA in low N-tolerant and low N-sensitive rice genotypes were reported. This provides a platform for selection as well as manipulation of genotypes for better N utilization efficiency.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Ecology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard University, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Lata
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nischal
authors.forename: Mohd
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohsin
authors.forename: Ishrat
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Hemant
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kardam
authors.forename: Asha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wadhwa
authors.forename: Yash Pal
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Abrol
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.forename: Altaf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmad
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers; D017343:Genes, Plant; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012275:Oryza / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D035683:MicroRNAs; D009584:Nitrogen