GmDREB1 overexpression affects the expression of microRNAs in GM wheat seeds

PLoS One. 2017 May 1;12(5):e0175924. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175924. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small regulators of gene expression that act on many different molecular and biochemical processes in eukaryotes. To date, miRNAs have not been considered in the current evaluation system for GM crops. In this study, small RNAs from the dry seeds of a GM wheat line overexpressing GmDREB1 and non-GM wheat cultivars were investigated using deep sequencing technology and bioinformatic approaches. As a result, 23 differentially expressed miRNAs in dry seeds were identified and confirmed between GM wheat and a non-GM acceptor. Notably, more differentially expressed tae-miRNAs between non-GM wheat varieties were found, indicating that the degree of variance between non-GM cultivars was considerably higher than that induced by the transgenic event. Most of the target genes of these differentially expressed miRNAs between GM wheat and a non-GM acceptor were associated with abiotic stress, in accordance with the product concept of GM wheat in improving drought and salt tolerance. Our data provided useful information and insights into the evaluation of miRNA expression in edible GM crops.

MeSH terms

  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / physiology
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / metabolism
  • RNA, Plant / genetics
  • RNA, Plant / metabolism
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Seeds / metabolism*
  • Soybean Proteins / genetics*
  • Soybean Proteins / metabolism
  • Species Specificity
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Triticum / genetics*
  • Triticum / metabolism

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Plant
  • Soybean Proteins
  • Transcription Factors

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the National Transgenic Key Project from the Ministry of Agriculture of China (2016ZX08011-003), General Project, National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31671964) and the Agricultural Science and Technology Program for Innovation Team on Identification and Excavation of Elite Crop Germplasm, CAAS.