《植物生理学报》 2012, 48(10): 929-940

MicroRNA调控被子植物花发育的研究进展

黄赫, 徐启江*

东北林业大学生命科学学院, 哈尔滨150040

通信作者：徐启江；E-mail: qijiangxu@126.com；Tel: 0451-82191783

摘　要：

MicroRNA (miRNA)是一类由内源基因编码的长度为21~23 nt的非编码单链小RNA分子, 通过与靶基因的互补位点 结合而降解或抑制靶mRNA的翻译, 从而在转录后水平上调控基因的活性。miRNA在调控植物发育方面发挥着广泛的作 用。从成花诱导到花器官特征属性的形成, miRNA在整个花发育过程均发挥着关键作用。miR172和miR156/157参与由营 养生长向生殖生长转换的调控, miR172和miR169在花发育的早期阶段通过界定靶基因的表达区域而调控花器官的属性, miR319、miR159、miR164以及miR167在花发育的晚期阶段决定细胞的特化。文章综述了miRNA调控被子植物花发育的 研究进展, 为深入了解miRNA的作用机制奠定基础。

关键词：microRNA (miRNA); 花发育; 转录后调控

收稿：2012-07-02   修定：2012-08-13

资助：黑龙江省自然科学基金(C201016)、哈尔滨市科技创新人 才研究专项资金项目(2010RFQXN097)和公益性行业(农业)科研专项经费(200903018)。

Progress in Research of MicroRNA Regulation on Angiosperm Flower Development

HUANG He, XU Qi-Jiang*

College of Life Sciences, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China

Corresponding author: XU Qi-Jiang; E-mail: qijiangxu@126.com; Tel: 0451-82191783

Abstract:

MicroRNA (miRNA) are approximately 21–23 nucleotides (nt) long, small single strand non-coding RNAs which are encoded by endogenous genes. miRNA plays a key role in regulating gene activity at posttranscriptional levels by binding to complementary sites in target genes causing degradation and/or translational repression of the target mRNAs. miRNA function broadly to regulate many aspects of plant development. miRNA function throughout flower development, from the floral induction to floral organ specification. miR172 and miR156/157 play a critical role in the vegetative to reproductive transition. miR172 and miR169 control floral organ identity fate during the early stages of flower development by defining the spatial boundaries of expression of target genes. miR319, miR159, miR164, and miR167 specify particular cell types during later stages of flower development. This review focuses on research progress in roles of miRNA in angiosperm flower development and provides a basis for better understanding the function mechanism of miRNA.

Key words: microRNA (miRNA); flower development; post-transcriptional regulation