684 / 2019-05-01 08:27:28

Characterizing key regulators of miRNAs involved in root development

miRNA, root, yeast one-hybrid,

全体主题 > Systems Biology

Roots are essential plant organs that provide structural support and are responsible for acquisition of water and certain mineral nutrients. MicroRNA (miRNAs) can post-transcriptionally repress their targets and affect root morphogenesis, patterning and lateral root development. They are also involved in plant adaptation to nutritional stress. The miR167, miR169 and miR393 families participate in the response to nitrogen (N) starvation by altering root architecture and modulating N uptake and transport. To improve our understanding of the genes controlling root development, we are using a gene centered approach to characterize upstream regulators. We have used a nearly complete root transcription factor (TF) library in an enhanced Yeast 1 Hybrid screen of promoters of these miRNAs and their targets. The result is a regulatory network of protein-DNA interactions, between transcription factors and the promoters of miRNAs and their down-stream targets. We have combined this with known and predicted miRNA targets and publicly available genome wide protein-DNA interaction data, thus forming a more complete Gene Regulatory Network (GRN). We further utilize extensive high-resolution spatial and temporal gene expression data with models to infer significant interactions and predict key regulators of root development. This information was used to evaluate 50 genetically perturbed lines for their root developmental phenotype and their response to N-limiting conditions.