Small RNA transcriptomes of mangroves evolve adaptively in extreme environments.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and endogenous small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are key players in plant stress responses. Here, we present the sRNA transcriptomes of mangroves Bruguiera gymnorrhiza and Kandelia candel. Comparative computational analyses and target predictions revealed that mangroves exhibit distinct sRNA regulatory networks that differ from those of glycophytes. A total of 32 known and three novel miRNA families were identified. Conserved and mangrove-specific miRNA targets were predicted; the latter were widely involved in stress responses. The known miRNAs showed differential expression between the mangroves and glycophytes, reminiscent of the adaptive stress-responsive changes in Arabidopsis. B. gymnorrhiza possessed highly abundant but less conserved TAS3 trans-acting siRNAs (tasiRNAs) in addition to tasiR-ARFs, with expanded potential targets. Our results indicate that the evolutionary alteration of sRNA expression levels and the rewiring of sRNA-regulatory networks are important mechanisms underlying stress adaptation. We also identified sRNAs that are involved in salt and/or drought tolerance and nutrient homeostasis as possible contributors to mangrove success in stressful environments.
State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Dynamics and Conservation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong, China.
Ming
M
Wen
State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Dynamics and Conservation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong, China.
Xingqin
X
Lin
State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Dynamics and Conservation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong, China.
Munan
M
Xie
State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Dynamics and Conservation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong, China.
Yushuai
Y
Wang
State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Dynamics and Conservation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong, China.
Xu
X
Shen
State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Dynamics and Conservation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong, China.
Zhongqi
Z
Liufu
State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Dynamics and Conservation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong, China.|Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, 1101 E. 57th Street, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
Chung-I
CI
Wu
State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Dynamics and Conservation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong, China.
Suhua
S
Shi
State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Dynamics and Conservation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong, China.
Tian
T
Tang
D017360:Arabidopsis; D005075:Biological Evolution; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D019295:Computational Biology; D020224:Expressed Sequence Tags; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D015723:Gene Library; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics*; D043982:Rhizophoraceae / Q000235:genetics*; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013696:Temperature; D059467:Transcriptome
D035683:MicroRNAs; D018749:RNA, Plant; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering