Functions of RNA in legumes
Plants have to regulate their response to environmental stress, to defend themselves against plant pathogens. One way it achieves this is though non-protein–coding RNA molecules such as small interfering RNA (siRNA) and microRNA (miRNA), which regulate the expression of various genes. The EU-funded 'Novel si/miRNAs in epigenetic regulation of salt stress responses in M. truncatula' (MEDEPIMIR) project investigated several si/miRNA molecules involved in stress responses in plants. Researchers focused on M. truncatula as a model of legume crops. They investigated miR160, a miRNA responsible for regulating growth through the hormone auxin. It was found that miR160 regulated 17 gene targets (more than in other plants), and that it controlled nodule development, which is important for nitrogen metabolism.Another aspect of MEDEPIMIR made use of mutant plant lines. The researchers identified a gene called RDR6 that controls the production of several siRNAs responsible for symbiotic interactions with bacteria. This project has furthered scientists' understanding of how non-protein–coding RNAs can direct growth and symbiotic interactions in legumes. The work informs future research into stress resistance in plants.
