title: Transcriptome-Wide Identification of miRNA Targets under Nitrogen Deficiency in Populus tomentosa Using Degradome Sequencing.
abstract: miRNAs are endogenous non-coding small RNAs with important regulatory roles in stress responses. Nitrogen (N) is an indispensable macronutrient required for plant growth and development. Previous studies have identified a variety of known and novel miRNAs responsive to low N stress in plants, including Populus. However, miRNAs involved in the cleavage of target genes and the corresponding regulatory networks in response to N stress in Populus remain largely unknown. Consequently, degradome sequencing was employed for global detection and validation of N-responsive miRNAs and their targets. A total of 60 unique miRNAs (39 conserved, 13 non-conserved, and eight novel) were experimentally identified to target 64 mRNA transcripts and 21 precursors. Among them, we further verified the cleavage of 11 N-responsive miRNAs identified previously and provided empirical evidence for the cleavage mode of these miRNAs on their target mRNAs. Furthermore, five miRNA stars (miRNA*s) were shown to have cleavage function. The specificity and diversity of cleavage sites on the targets and miRNA precursors in P. tomentosa were further detected. Identification and annotation of miRNA-mediated cleavage of target genes in Populus can increase our understanding of miRNA-mediated molecular mechanisms of woody plants adapted to low N environments.
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China. chenmin19920219@126.com.|Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China. chenmin19920219@126.com.|College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China. chenmin19920219@126.com.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China. holymagicmother@163.com.|Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China. holymagicmother@163.com.|College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China. holymagicmother@163.com.
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China. qiumingwu930@126.com.|Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China. qiumingwu930@126.com.|College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China. qiumingwu930@126.com.
authors.forename: Qiuming
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China. ywwang@bjfu.edu.cn.|Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China. ywwang@bjfu.edu.cn.|College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China. ywwang@bjfu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yanwei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / Q000379:methods*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D058977:Molecular Sequence Annotation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000172:deficiency*; D032107:Populus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018749:RNA, Plant; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: Populus tomentosa; degradome; miRNA; miRNA*; precursor; targets