Ultrahigh-throughput sequences profiling of small RNA in Brachypodium
distachyon, an emergining model for cereal and biofuel crops.
Small RNAs, which include microRNAs (miRNAs), endogenous small interfering RNAs
(endo siRNAs), as well as other endogenous small RNAs, have been firmly
established during the past decade as key regulators of the genome function in
diverse eukaryotic organisms, including all land plants. Both miRNA and siRNAs can
cause potent silencing of gene expression via targeting the complementary
messenger RNAs (mRNAs) for degradation or translational repression. Not
surprisingly, they are being rapidly developed into powerful tools of gene
manipulation, not only in the context of basic research but also for myriad of applied
purposes. Moreover, siRNAs can also trigger gene silencing at the level of
transcription, by guiding the nuclear repressive complexes that cause either histone
modifications or DNA methylation, or both. Yet, the biology of small RNAs in monocot
plants remains poorly studied.
Progress in understanding the basic biology and mechanisms of gene regulation in
monocot grasses, including cereal species cultivated for food and feed, as well as
dedicated biofuel crops such as switchgrass has been severely constrained for many
years due to the lack of convenient experimental systems. Brachypodium distachyon
has recently emerged as a premier model for functional genomics studies in
temperate grasses, a phylogenetic group that includes such agriculturally important
species of cereal crops as corn, wheat, rice, barley and pearl millet, because of its
simple growth requirements, rapid life cycle, small size, easy transformability by
T-DNA and small, compact genome.
The key goal of this project is to make a contribution towards filling this gap in our
knowledge of the basic biology of temperate grasses by creating a comprehensive
catalog of small regulatory RNAs in Brachypodium distachyon.
distachyon, an emergining model for cereal and biofuel crops.
Small RNAs, which include microRNAs (miRNAs), endogenous small interfering RNAs
(endo siRNAs), as well as other endogenous small RNAs, have been firmly
established during the past decade as key regulators of the genome function in
diverse eukaryotic organisms, including all land plants. Both miRNA and siRNAs can
cause potent silencing of gene expression via targeting the complementary
messenger RNAs (mRNAs) for degradation or translational repression. Not
surprisingly, they are being rapidly developed into powerful tools of gene
manipulation, not only in the context of basic research but also for myriad of applied
purposes. Moreover, siRNAs can also trigger gene silencing at the level of
transcription, by guiding the nuclear repressive complexes that cause either histone
modifications or DNA methylation, or both. Yet, the biology of small RNAs in monocot
plants remains poorly studied.
Progress in understanding the basic biology and mechanisms of gene regulation in
monocot grasses, including cereal species cultivated for food and feed, as well as
dedicated biofuel crops such as switchgrass has been severely constrained for many
years due to the lack of convenient experimental systems. Brachypodium distachyon
has recently emerged as a premier model for functional genomics studies in
temperate grasses, a phylogenetic group that includes such agriculturally important
species of cereal crops as corn, wheat, rice, barley and pearl millet, because of its
simple growth requirements, rapid life cycle, small size, easy transformability by
T-DNA and small, compact genome.
The key goal of this project is to make a contribution towards filling this gap in our
knowledge of the basic biology of temperate grasses by creating a comprehensive
catalog of small regulatory RNAs in Brachypodium distachyon.
Brachypodium Project:
Supported by the Missouri Life Sciences Research Board
Supported by the Missouri Life Sciences Research Board
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