Comparison of miRNA Evolution and Function in Plants and Animals

Title:Comparison of miRNA Evolution and Function in Plants and Animals

Volume: 7 Issue: 1

Author(s): Yu Zhang, Ze Yun, Liang Gong, Hongxia Qu, Xuewu Duan, Yueming Jiang and Hong Zhu*

Affiliation:

• Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650,China

Keywords: microRNA, origination, evolution, biogenesis, C. elegans, cytoplasm.

Abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs), as a major player in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, have been reported to regulate a broad variety of key biological processes, including growth, development and stress responses in both plants and animals. While the biogenesis and regulatory abilities of miRNAs have been extensively studied, the evolutionary history of miRNAs still needs more exploration. So far, several models explain the origination of plant and animal MIRNA (MIR) genes. Both inter-species and intra-species conservation and divergence of miRNAs exhibits functional adaptation to changing environments in evolution. Here we summarize recent progress in how these similarities and differences contribute to the characteristic features of miRNA evolution in the two kingdoms.

Cite this article as:

Zhang Yu , Yun Ze , Gong Liang , Qu Hongxia , Duan Xuewu, Jiang Yueming and Zhu Hong*, Comparison of miRNA Evolution and Function in Plants and Animals, MicroRNA 2018; 7 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/2211536607666180126163031