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MiRNA fine tuning for crop improvement: using advance computational models and biotechnological tools

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Abstract

MiRNAs modulate target genes expression at post-transcriptional levels, by reducing spatial abundance of mRNAs. MiRNAs regulats plant metabolism, and emerged as regulators of plant stress responses. Which make miRNAs promising candidates for fine tuning to affectively alter crop stress tolerance and other important traits. With recent advancements in the computational biology and biotechnology miRNAs structure and target prediction is possible resulting in pin point editing; miRNA modulation can be done by up or down regulating miRNAs using recently available biotechnological tools (CRISPR Cas9, TALENS and RNAi). In this review we have focused on miRNA biogenesis, miRNA roles in plant development, plant stress responses and roles in signaling pathways. Additionally we have discussed latest computational prediction models for miRNA to target gene interaction and biotechnological systems used recently for miRNA modulation. We have also highlighted setbacks and limitations in the way of miRNA modulation; providing entirely a new direction for improvement in plant genomics primarily focusing miRNAs.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia, for their technical support RGP.2/169/42

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Horticulture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China

    Asad Abbas

  2. Department of Agricultural Engineering, Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan 64200, Punjab, Pakistan

    Adnan Noor Shah & Muhammad Mohsin Waqas

  3. Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia

    Mohsin Tanveer

  4. Department of Horticulture, The University of Haripur, Hatatr Road, Haripur, 22620, Pakistan

    Waseem Ahmed

  5. Department of Botany, Division of Science and Technology, University of Education, Lahore, Pakistan

    Anis Ali Shah

  6. Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, The University of Haripur, Haripur, Pakistan

    Sajid Fiaz

  7. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia

    Sami Ullah

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Abbas, A., Shah, A.N., Tanveer, M. et al. MiRNA fine tuning for crop improvement: using advance computational models and biotechnological tools. Mol Biol Rep 49, 5437–5450 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-022-07231-5

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