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MicroRNAs are ~21-nucleotide regulatory
RNAs that are processed from hairpin precursors by Dice-like
enzymes. MicroRNAs can negatively regulate gene
expression by attenuating translation, which is prevalent
in animal systems, or by directing mRNA cleavage (see
figure), which can occur in plants.
In collaboration
with the laboratory of David
Bartel of the Whitehead Institute, we found that these tiny RNAs are present in plants and that regulatory targets of plant microRNAs can be reliably predicted as mRNAs with near-perfect complementarity to microRNAs. We deciphered functions of several conserved microRNA-mRNA target pairs employing the now-classic dual approach of overexpressing microRNAs to reveal loss-of-target-gene phenotypes and expressing microRNA-resistant targets from native promoters to uncover loss-of-microRNA-regulation phenotypes. We found that miR164 negatively regulates its mRNA targets to regulate organ separation; that miR160 controls ARF17 to direct auxin responses; and that miR398 can act as a translational repressor when target site complementarity is reduced.
(Press
release on miR164; Press release on miR160) 
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Former lab members with microRNA projects:
Diana Dugas
(Ph.D. 2007)
We
gratefully acknowledge support for this research from
the NIH and the G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Charitable
Foundation.
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Criteria for annotation of plant microRNAs.
Meyers, B.C, Axtell, M.J., Bartel, B., Bartel, D.P., Baulcombe, D., Bowman, J.L., Cao, X., Carrington, J.C., Chen, X., Green, P.J., Griffiths-Jones, S., Jacobsen, S.E., Mallory, A.C., Martienssen, R.A., Poethig, R.S., Qi, Y., Vaucheret, H., Voinnet, O., Watanabe, Y., Wiegel, D., Zhu, J.K. (2008) The Plant Cell 20, 3186-3190.
Abstract; full text; PDF
Sucrose induction of Arabidopsis miR398 represses two Cu/Zn superoxide dismutases.
Dugas, D.V. and Bartel, B. (2008) Plant Molecular Biology 67, 403-417.
Abstract; full text
MicroRNAs and their regulatory roles in plants.
Jones-Rhoades, M.W., Bartel, D.P., and Bartel, B. (2006) Annual Review of Plant Biology 57, 19-53.
Abstract; full text
MicroRNAs directing siRNA biogenesis.
Bartel, B. (2005) Nature Structural & Molecular Biology12, 569-571.
abstract; full text
MicroRNA-directed regulation of Arabidopsis AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR17 is essential for proper development and modulates expression of early auxin response genes.
Mallory, A.C., Bartel, D.P., and Bartel, B. (2005) Plant Cell, 17, 1360-1375. (On the cover)
Abstract; full text
MicroRNA
regulation of gene expression in plants.
Dugas, D.V. and Bartel, B. (2004)
Current Opinion in Plant Biology 7, 512-520.
Abstract
MicroRNA
regulation of NAC-domain targets is required for proper formation
and separation of adjacent embryonic, vegetative, and floral
organs.
Mallory, A.C., Dugas, D.V., Bartel, D.P.,
and Bartel, B. (2004) Current Biology 14, 1035-1046. (On the cover)
Abstract;
full
text
MicroRNAs. At the root of plant
development?
Bartel, B. and Bartel, D.P. (2003) Plant
Physiology 132, 709-717.
Full
text; PDF
A
uniform system for microRNA annotation.
Ambros, V., Bartel, B., Bartel, D.P., Burge,
C.B., Carrington, J.C., Chen, X., Dreyfuss, G., Eddy, S.R., Griffiths-Jones,
S., Marshall, M., Matzke, M., Ruvkun, G., and Tuschl, T. (2003)
RNA 9, 277-279.
Abstract;
full
text; PDF
Prediction
of plant microRNA targets.
Rhoades, M.W., Reinhart. B.J., Lim, L.P.,
Burge, C.B., Bartel, B., and Bartel, D.P. (2002) Cell 110,
513-520.
Abstract;
full
text; PDF
MicroRNAs
in plants.
Reinhart, B.J., Weinstein E.G., Rhoades
M.W., Bartel B., Bartel D.P. (2002)
Genes and Development 16, 1616-1626.
Abstract;
full
text; PDF
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