Role of Methylation in MicroRNA Metabolism in Arabidopsis

甲基化在拟南芥 MicroRNA 代谢中的作用

• 批准号: 0718029
• 负责人: Xuemei Chen
• 金额: $ 50万
• 依托单位: University of California-Riverside
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-09-01 至 2011-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0718029&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Role; Methylation; MicroRNA; Metabolism; Arabidopsis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) constitute two major classes of small regulatory RNAs that play crucial roles in development, metabolism, and genome organization in plants, fungi and animals. In a previous NSF funded project, the PI's group uncovered a new step in plant miRNA biogenesis methylation of the 2' OH of the 3' terminal nucleotides. The 2'-O-methyl group protects miRNAs from a uridylation activity and an exonuclease activity. In this project, the PI's and co-PI's groups will employ biochemical approaches to probe the functions of methylation and uridylation and to use genetic approaches to identify the genes encoding the uridylation enzyme and/or the exonuclease.Small RNAs have a profound impact on an organism's development and physiology. Understanding how small RNAs are generated, modified and degraded provides the intellectual foundation to probe various biological processes involving small RNA regulation. Although how small RNAs are processed from their precursors is well understood, little is known about how they are modified or degraded. By uncovering mechanisms in small RNA modification and degradation, this research will have profound impacts on the small RNA field and will ultimately contribute to a deeper understanding of small RNA biology and to the development of small RNA-based technologies to improve agriculture. The project will also provide research opportunities for a number of undergraduate students, including ones from underrepresented minorities.

microRNA（miRNAs）和小干扰RNA（siRNAs）构成了两大类小调控RNA，它们在植物、真菌和动物的发育、代谢和基因组组织中起着至关重要的作用。在之前NSF资助的项目中，PI的团队发现了植物miRNA生物合成中3'末端核苷酸2' OH甲基化的新步骤。2 '-0-甲基保护miRNA免于尿苷化活性和核酸外切酶活性。在这个项目中，PI和co-PI的小组将采用生物化学方法来探测甲基化和尿苷化的功能，并使用遗传学方法来鉴定编码尿苷化酶和/或核酸外切酶的基因。小RNA对生物体的发育和生理有着深远的影响。了解小RNA是如何产生、修饰和降解的，为探索涉及小RNA调控的各种生物学过程提供了知识基础。虽然小RNA是如何从它们的前体加工出来的已经很清楚了，但关于它们是如何被修饰或降解的却知之甚少。通过揭示小RNA修饰和降解的机制，这项研究将对小RNA领域产生深远的影响，并最终有助于更深入地了解小RNA生物学和开发基于小RNA的技术来改善农业。该项目还将为一些本科生提供研究机会，包括来自代表性不足的少数民族的学生。