title: Absolute quantification of microRNAs in green tea (Camellia sinensis) by stem-loop quantitative real-time PCR.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are some studies to show that food-derived plant microRNAs (miRNAs) may be detected in mammals. The research evidence has provoked a considerable debate whether plant-derived miRNAs exert the same regulatory functions as endogenous animal miRNAs. To test the hypothesis, methods of highly sensitive absolute quantification miRNAs have been developed. However, absolute miRNA quantification of green tea has not yet been reported. This study is the first to build an absolute quantification method to detect miRNAs level in green tea using stem-loop quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two miRNAs, csn-miR164 (a conserved miRNA) and csn-miRn329 (a tea-specific miRNA), were selected as examples for the detection and absolute quantification of miRNAs in green tea samples using stem-loop qRT-PCR. The content of csn-miR164 was significantly higher in the Yuexi Cuilan (YX) samples than in the Shucheng Orchid (SC) samples. The content of csn-miRn329 was found to be high at the start of processing in leaf tissues in both the withering and soaking experiments, after which it gradually decreased with time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to absolutely quantify the miRNAs present in green tea. This method will help to further investigate the possibility that tea-derived miRNAs may play an important role on defending against various diseases in humans. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang West Road, Hefei, 230036, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ying-Hui
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang West Road, Hefei, 230036, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Anburaj
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jeyaraj
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang West Road, Hefei, 230036, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang West Road, Hefei, 230036, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Chao-Ling
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D028241:Camellia sinensis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D018749:RNA, Plant
keywords: Camellia sinensis; absolute quantification; green tea; microRNA; stem loop qRT-PCR