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Identification of differentially expressed mungbean miRNAs and their targets in response to drought stress by small RNA deep sequencing
Date Issued
2022-06-01
Author(s)
Kumar, Sanjeev
Das, Mahesh
Sadhukhan, Ayan
Sahoo, Lingaraj
DOI
10.1016/j.cpb.2022.100246
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs, 18–25 nt in length, that play a crucial role in regulating genes associated with the physiological processes and responses to various biotic and abiotic stresses. Different conserved and species-specific microRNAs and their functions have been identified, primarily in plants such as rice and Arabidopsis with sequenced genomes. Our present study identifies drought-responsive miRNAs and their potential targets from mungbean under three days of drought stress induced by PEG-6000. We constructed small RNA libraries from both control and drought-treated tolerant and susceptible mungbean genotypes and identified various miRNAs involved in drought stress regulation. Analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) revealed 79 up-regulated and 158 down-regulated novel miRNAs and two up-and down-regulated known miRNAs under drought. Annotation of the miRNAs followed by target prediction and expression analysis revealed five miRNAs, Vra-miR160, Vra-miR164, Vra-miR167, Vra-miR394, and Vra-miR398, were potentially involved in the regulation of drought-responsive genes. Their predicted target genes were an Auxin response factor (ARF), a NAC (for petunia NAM and Arabidopsis ATAF1, ATAF2, and CUC2) transcription factor, Serine acetyltransferase 1, and Multicopper oxidase LPR2-like. The expression of drought-responsive miRNAs and their targets were validated by real-time PCR. Our data suggest that various known and novel microRNAs activated transcription factors, enzyme kinases, and hormone signaling pathways alleviate drought stress in the tolerant K-851 genotype of mungbean.