Role of MicroRNAs in Plant Abiotic Stress Responses

Recently discovered genome-encoded small RNAs have emerged as critical regulators of gene expression in higher eukaryotes. MicroRNAs fine-tune target gene expression at the posttranscriptional level by degrading and/or inhibiting the protein production and this regulation is critical for all most all biological processes in a plant species including acclimating to abiotic stresses. To gain an insight into miRNA networks that control stress tolerance in plant species, we have sequenced small RNA libraries from control and stress-treated plant samples. Sequence analysis has revealed the altered levels of several conserved and novel miRNAs, which could play decisive roles in tolerating stressful environments. These findings as well as a few functional analyses of stress responsive miRNAs will be discussed.