title: MicroRNA mediates DNA methylation of target genes.
abstract: Small RNAs represented by microRNA (miRNA) plays important roles in plant development and responds to biotic and abiotic stresses. Previous studies have placed special emphasis on gene-repression mediated by miRNA. In this work, the DNA methylation pattern of microRNA genes (MIRs) was interrogated. Full-length cDNA and EST were used to confirm the entity of pri-miRNA. In parallel, miRNA in 24 nucleotides (nt) was pooled to detect chromatin modification effect by using bisulfite sequencing data. 97 MIRs were supported by full-length cDNA and 30 more were hit by EST. Notably, methylation levels of conserved MIRs were significantly lower than the non-conserved at all contexts (CG, CHG, and CHH). Additionally, a substantial part of 24-nt miRNA was able to induce target site methylation, providing a broader perspective for researchers.
authors: College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China; Zhejiang-California International Nanosystems Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China. Electronic address: wxhu@zju.edu.cn.
authors: Wangxiong
authors: W
authors: Hu
authors: Institute of Crop Science, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.
authors: Tingzhang
authors: T
authors: Wang
authors: Institute of Crop Science, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.
authors: Jianhong
authors: J
authors: Xu
authors: Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China. Electronic address: lhz@wzmc.edu.cn.
authors: Hongzhi
authors: H
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D019175:DNA Methylation; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012275:Oryza / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D018744:DNA, Plant; D035683:MicroRNAs; D018749:RNA, Plant
keywords: DNA methylation; Gene ontology; MicroRNA; RNA-directed DNA methylation