title: miRNA-encoded peptides (miPEPs): A new tool to analyze the roles of miRNAs in plant biology.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short RNA molecules negatively regulating the expression of many important genes in plants and animals. We have recently shown that plant primary transcripts of miRNAs encode peptides (miPEPs) able to increase specifically the transcription of their associated miRNA.(1) We discuss here the possibility of using miPEPs as a new tool for functional analysis of single members of miRNA families in plants, including in non-model plants, that could avoid transgenic transformation and minimize artifactual interpretation. We also raise several fundamental and crucial questions that need to be address for a deeper understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlining the regulatory activity of miPEPs.
authors.affiliation: a Université de Toulouse; UPS; UMR5546; Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales ; Castanet-Tolosan , France.|b CNRS; UMR5546 ; Castanet-Tolosan , France.
authors.forename: Jean-Malo
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Couzigou
authors.affiliation: a Université de Toulouse; UPS; UMR5546; Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales ; Castanet-Tolosan , France.|b CNRS; UMR5546 ; Castanet-Tolosan , France.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lauressergues
authors.affiliation: a Université de Toulouse; UPS; UMR5546; Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales ; Castanet-Tolosan , France.|b CNRS; UMR5546 ; Castanet-Tolosan , France.
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bécard
authors.affiliation: a Université de Toulouse; UPS; UMR5546; Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales ; Castanet-Tolosan , France.|b CNRS; UMR5546 ; Castanet-Tolosan , France.
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Combier
mesh_terms: D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D010455:Peptides
keywords: miPEPs; miRNAs; microRNA-encoded peptides; microRNAs; plant biology