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Roles of microRNA in plant defense and virus offense interaction

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Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNA) that are around 22 nucleotides long non-protein-coding RNAs, play key regulatory roles in plants. Recent research findings show that miRNAs are involved in plant defense and viral offense systems. Advances in understanding the mechanism of miRNA biogenesis and evolution are useful for elucidating the complicated roles they play in viral infection networks. In this paper a brief summary of evolution of plant anti-virus defense is given and the function of miRNAs involved in plant-virus competition is highlighted. It is believed that miRNAs have several advantages over homology-dependent and siRNA-mediated gene silencing when they are applied biotechnologically to promote plant anti-virus defense. miRNA-mediated anti-virus pathway is an ancient mechanism with a promising future. However, using miRNAs as a powerful anti-virus tool will be better realized only if miRNA genomics and functions in plant viral infection are fully understood.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all colleagues who have done work on phytopathology, miRNAs and related fields. We are grateful to Prof. Prakash Kumar for valuable advice on revision of the manuscript. We acknowledge the colleagues whose work in this rapidly changing field was not directly cited in this review due to space limitations and timing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. YanTai Institute of Coastal Zone Research for Sustainable Development, Chinese Academy of Science, 264003, Yantai, China

    Yan-du Lu

  2. Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 266071, Qingdao, China

    Yan-du Lu, Xiao-yuan Chi & Song Qin

  3. Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China

    Yan-du Lu & Xiao-yuan Chi

  4. Technical Center of Inspection and Quarantine, Shandong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, 266001, Qingdao, China

    Qin-hua Gan

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  1. Yan-du Lu
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Correspondence to Song Qin.

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Communicated by P. Kumar.

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Lu, Yd., Gan, Qh., Chi, Xy. et al. Roles of microRNA in plant defense and virus offense interaction. Plant Cell Rep 27, 1571–1579 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-008-0584-z

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