miRNA regulation in the early development of barley seed

Our analysis identified 84 known miRNAs and 7 new miRNAs together with 96 putative miRNA target genes regulated through a slicing mechanism in grain tissues during the first 15？days post anthesis. We also identified many potential miRNAs including several belonging to known miRNA families. Our data gave us evidence for an increase in miRNA-mediated regulation during the transition between pre-storage and storage phases. Potential miRNA targets were found in various signalling pathways including components of four phytohormone pathways (ABA, GA, auxin, ethylene) and the defence response to powdery mildew infection. Among the putative miRNA targets we identified were two essential genes controlling the GA response, a GA3oxidase1 and a homolog of the receptor GID1, and a homolog of the ACC oxidase which catalyses the last step of ethylene biosynthesis. We found that two MLA genes are potentially miRNA regulated, establishing a direct link between miRNAs and the R gene response.Our dataset provides a useful source of information on miRNA regulation during the early development of cereal grains and our analysis suggests that miRNAs contribute to the control of development of the cereal grain, notably through the regulation of phytohormone response pathways.MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding small RNAs (smRNAs) that act to reduce expression of target genes by interacting with their target mRNAs in a sequence-specific manner. Since their discovery it has become clear that miRNAs are an important component in the regulation of many genes in most eukaryotic cells. In plants, most currently validated miRNA targets code for transcription factor families with crucial developmental functions, including the control of root and shoot architecture, vegetative to reproductive phase transitions and leaf and flower morphogenesis [1,2].miRNAs are processed from a primary miRNA transcript which folds to form an imperfect stem-loop. The pri-miRNA hairpin is recognised and proce