title: Analysis of promoters of microRNAs from a Glycine max degradome library.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are genome-encoded, small non-coding RNAs that play important functions in development, biotic and abiotic stress responses, and other processes. Our aim was to explore the regulation of miRNA expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used bioinformatics methods to predict the core promoters of 440 miRNAs identified from a soybean (Glycine max) degradome library and to analyze cis-acting elements for 369 miRNAs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prediction results showed that 83.86% of the 440 miRNAs contained promoters in their upstream sequences, and 8.64% (38 loci) in their downstream sequences. The distributions of two core promoter elements, TATA-boxes and transcription start sites (TSSs), were similar. The cis-acting elements were examined to provide clues to the function and regulation of spatiotemporal expression of the miRNAs. Analyses of miRNA cis-elements and targets indicated a potential auxin response factor (ARF)- and gibberellin response factor (GARF)-mediated negative feedback loop for miRNA expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The features of miRNAs from a Glycine max degradome library obtained here provide insights into the transcription regulation and functions of miRNAs in soybean.
authors: College of Life Science and Technology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, China; The National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; College of Agronomy, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, China.
authors: Yi-qiang
authors: YQ
authors: Han
authors: Zheng
authors: Z
authors: Hu
authors: Dian-feng
authors: DF
authors: Zheng
authors: Ya-mei
authors: YM
authors: Gao
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D019295:Computational Biology; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D015723:Gene Library; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D013025:Glycine max / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D018749:RNA, Plant