Inactivating microRNAs By Short Tandem Target Mimics and Silencing Coding Genes By Artificial microRNAs and Their Applications

Small RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), play central roles in growth and development, epigenetics, genome integrity, defense against pathogen infection, and responses to environmental changes in plants. miRNAs are especially important in controlling plant development, productivity, and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses by negatively regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Hundreds to thousands of miRNAs have been identified from dozens of plant species. However, their roles in plant development and response against various pathogens and other stresses are largely unknown. We have developed the most recent cutting-edge genomics technology, termed small tandem target mimic (STTM), into the study of miRNAs in model and crop plants. Students at all levels of education will be engaged in a variety of activities including teaching, training, learning workshops, and technology-extension. The project will provide research training in STTM technology, rice transformation, and functional studies of miRNAs for postdoctoral associates, graduate and undergraduate students. The knowledge provided by our project will be disseminated to the general public through various venues.

While STTMs inactivate microRNAs, artificial microRNAs (amiRNAs) technology learns from natural microRNAs for us to do many things to manipulate/engineer protein-coding genes of various genetic and physiological pathways. We will introduce our most cutting-edge development of technology from “one-hit” amiRNAs to the second generation of “two-hit” amiRNAs for silencing almost all protein-coding genes much more effectively. This provides a powerful “Swiss Army Knife” tool for altering plants