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Zhang D, Ma Y, Naz M, Ahmed N, Zhang L, Zhou JJ, Yang D, Chen Z. Advances in CircRNAs in the Past Decade: Review of CircRNAs Biogenesis, Regulatory Mechanisms, and Functions in Plants. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:958. [PMID: 39062737 PMCID: PMC11276256 DOI: 10.3390/genes15070958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Circular RNA (circRNA) is a type of non-coding RNA with multiple biological functions. Whole circRNA genomes in plants have been identified, and circRNAs have been demonstrated to be widely present and highly expressed in various plant tissues and organs. CircRNAs are highly stable and conserved in plants, and exhibit tissue specificity and developmental stage specificity. CircRNAs often interact with other biomolecules, such as miRNAs and proteins, thereby regulating gene expression, interfering with gene function, and affecting plant growth and development or response to environmental stress. CircRNAs are less studied in plants than in animals, and their regulatory mechanisms of biogenesis and molecular functions are not fully understood. A variety of circRNAs in plants are involved in regulating growth and development and responding to environmental stress. This review focuses on the biogenesis and regulatory mechanisms of circRNAs, as well as their biological functions during growth, development, and stress responses in plants, including a discussion of plant circRNA research prospects. Understanding the generation and regulatory mechanisms of circRNAs is a challenging but important topic in the field of circRNAs in plants, as it can provide insights into plant life activities and their response mechanisms to biotic or abiotic stresses as well as new strategies for plant molecular breeding and pest control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongqin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; (D.Z.); (M.N.); (N.A.); (L.Z.); (J.-J.Z.); (D.Y.)
| | - Yue Ma
- College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China;
| | - Misbah Naz
- Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; (D.Z.); (M.N.); (N.A.); (L.Z.); (J.-J.Z.); (D.Y.)
| | - Nazeer Ahmed
- Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; (D.Z.); (M.N.); (N.A.); (L.Z.); (J.-J.Z.); (D.Y.)
| | - Libo Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; (D.Z.); (M.N.); (N.A.); (L.Z.); (J.-J.Z.); (D.Y.)
| | - Jing-Jiang Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; (D.Z.); (M.N.); (N.A.); (L.Z.); (J.-J.Z.); (D.Y.)
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK
| | - Ding Yang
- Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; (D.Z.); (M.N.); (N.A.); (L.Z.); (J.-J.Z.); (D.Y.)
| | - Zhuo Chen
- Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; (D.Z.); (M.N.); (N.A.); (L.Z.); (J.-J.Z.); (D.Y.)
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Deng K, Li Z, Huang T, Huang J. Noncoding RNAs in regulation of plant secondary metabolism. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2024; 211:108718. [PMID: 38733939 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) are a large class of structurally diverse molecules, mainly consisting of terpenoids, phenolic compounds, and nitrogen-containing compounds, which play active roles in plant development and stress responses. The biosynthetic processes of PSMs are governed by a sophisticated regulatory network at multiple levels. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) such as microRNAs (miRNAs), long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) may serve as post-transcriptional regulators for plant secondary metabolism through acting on genes encoding either transcription factors or participating enzymes in relevant metabolic pathways. High-throughput sequencing technologies have facilitated the large-scale identifications of ncRNAs potentially involved in plant secondary metabolism in model plant species as well as certain species with enriched production of specific types of PSMs. Moreover, a series of miRNA-target modules have been functionally characterized to be responsible for regulating PSM biosynthesis and accumulation in plants under abiotic or biotic stresses. In this review, we will provide an overview of current findings on the ncRNA-mediated regulation of plant secondary metabolism with special attention to its participation in plant stress responses, and discuss possible issues to be addressed in future fundamental research and breeding practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyin Deng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Ziwei Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Tengbo Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Jianzi Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
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Dawoud A, Elmasri RA, Mohamed AH, Mahmoud A, Rostom MM, Youness RA. Involvement of CircRNAs in regulating The "New Generation of Cancer Hallmarks": A Special Depiction on Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 196:104312. [PMID: 38428701 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The concept of 'Hallmarks of Cancer' is an approach of reducing the enormous complexity of cancer to a set of guiding principles. As the underlying mechanism of cancer are portrayed, we find that we gain insight and additional aspects of the disease arise. The understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TME) brought a new dimension and led to the discovery of novel hallmarks such as senescent cells, non-mutational epigenetic reprogramming, polymorphic microbiomes and unlocked phenotypic plasticity. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are single-stranded, covalently closed RNA molecules that are ubiquitous across all species. Recent studies on the circRNAs have highlighted their crucial function in regulating the formation of human malignancies through a range of biological processes. The primary goal of this review is to clarify the role of circRNAs in the most common form of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This review also addressed the topic of how circRNAs affect HCC hallmarks, including the new generation hallmarks. Finally, the enormous applications that these rapidly expanding ncRNA molecules serve in the functional and molecular development of effective HCC diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Dawoud
- Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry Department, Molecular Genetics Research Team (MGRT), Faculty of Biotechnology, German International University (GIU), 11835, New Administrative Capital, Egypt; School of Medicine, University of North California, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - R A Elmasri
- Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry Department, Molecular Genetics Research Team (MGRT), Faculty of Biotechnology, German International University (GIU), 11835, New Administrative Capital, Egypt
| | - A H Mohamed
- Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry Department, Molecular Genetics Research Team (MGRT), Faculty of Biotechnology, German International University (GIU), 11835, New Administrative Capital, Egypt; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - A Mahmoud
- Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry Department, Molecular Genetics Research Team (MGRT), Faculty of Biotechnology, German International University (GIU), 11835, New Administrative Capital, Egypt; Biotechnology School, Nile University, Giza 12677, Egypt
| | - M M Rostom
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, German University in Cairo (GUC), Cairo 11835, Egypt
| | - R A Youness
- Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry Department, Molecular Genetics Research Team (MGRT), Faculty of Biotechnology, German International University (GIU), 11835, New Administrative Capital, Egypt.
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Rao G, Peng X, Tian Y, Fu X, Zhang Y. Circular RNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma: biogenesis, function, and pathology. Front Genet 2023; 14:1106665. [PMID: 37485335 PMCID: PMC10361733 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1106665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Both genetic and environmental factors through a multitude of underlying molecular mechanisms participate in the pathogenesis of HCC. Recently, numerous studies have shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs), an emerging class of non-coding RNAs characterized by the presence of covalent bonds linking 3' and 5' ends, play an important role in the initiation and progression of cancers, including HCC. In this review, we outline the current status of the field of circRNAs, with an emphasis on the functions and mechanisms of circRNAs in HCC and its microenvironment. We also summarize and discuss recent advances of circRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets. These efforts are anticipated to throw new insights into future perspectives about circRNAs in basic, translational and clinical research, eventually advancing the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guocheng Rao
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Cancer Center West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xi Peng
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Cancer Center West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yan Tian
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Cancer Center West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xianghui Fu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Cancer Center West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuwei Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Zhao Y, Liu G, Yang F, Liang Y, Gao Q, Xiang C, Li X, Yang R, Zhang G, Jiang H, Yu L, Yang S. Multilayered regulation of secondary metabolism in medicinal plants. MOLECULAR HORTICULTURE 2023; 3:11. [PMID: 37789448 PMCID: PMC10514987 DOI: 10.1186/s43897-023-00059-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Medicinal plants represent a huge reservoir of secondary metabolites (SMs), substances with significant pharmaceutical and industrial potential. However, obtaining secondary metabolites remains a challenge due to their low-yield accumulation in medicinal plants; moreover, these secondary metabolites are produced through tightly coordinated pathways involving many spatiotemporally and environmentally regulated steps. The first regulatory layer involves a complex network of transcription factors; a second, more recently discovered layer of complexity in the regulation of SMs is epigenetic modification, such as DNA methylation, histone modification and small RNA-based mechanisms, which can jointly or separately influence secondary metabolites by regulating gene expression. Here, we summarize the findings in the fields of genetic and epigenetic regulation with a special emphasis on SMs in medicinal plants, providing a new perspective on the multiple layers of regulation of gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, 650201, Kunming, China
- College of Agronomy & Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Guanze Liu
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, 650201, Kunming, China
| | - Feng Yang
- Institute of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Yanli Liang
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, 650201, Kunming, China
- College of Agronomy & Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Qingqing Gao
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, 650201, Kunming, China
- College of Agronomy & Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Chunfan Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, 650201, Kunming, China
- College of Agronomy & Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Xia Li
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, 650201, Kunming, China
- College of Agronomy & Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Run Yang
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, 650201, Kunming, China
- College of Agronomy & Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Guanghui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, 650201, Kunming, China
- College of Agronomy & Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Huifeng Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Biology for Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China.
| | - Lei Yu
- College of Agronomy, Yunnan Urban Agricultural Engineering and Technological Research Center, Kunming University, Kunming, 650214, China.
| | - Shengchao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, 650201, Kunming, China.
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Liu J, Zhang C, Jiang M, Ni Y, Xu Y, Wu W, Huang L, Newmaster SG, Kole C, Wu B, Liu C. Identification of circular RNAs of Cannabis sativa L. potentially involved in the biosynthesis of cannabinoids. PLANTA 2023; 257:72. [PMID: 36862222 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-023-04104-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
We identified circRNAs in the Cannabis sativa L. genome and examined their association with 28 cannabinoids in three tissues of C. sativa. Nine circRNAs are potentially involved in the biosynthesis of six cannabinoids. Cannabis sativa L. has been widely used in the production of medicine, textiles, and food for over 2500 years. The main bioactive compounds in C. sativa are cannabinoids, which have multiple important pharmacological actions. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play essential roles in growth and development, stress resistance, and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. However, the circRNAs in C. sativa remain unknown. In this study, to explore the role of circRNAs in cannabinoid biosynthesis, we performed RNA-Seq and metabolomics analysis on the leaves, roots, and stems of C. sativa. We identified 741 overlapping circRNAs by three tools, of which 717, 16, and 8 circRNAs were derived from exonic, intronic, and intergenic, respectively. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that the parental genes (PGs) of circRNAs were enriched in many processes related to biological stress responses. We found that most of the circRNAs showed tissue-specific expression and 65 circRNAs were significantly correlated with their PGs (P < 0.05, |r|≥ 0.5). We also determined 28 cannabinoids by High-performance liquid chromatography-ESI-triple quadrupole-linear ion trap mass spectrometry. Ten circRNAs, including ciR0159, ciR0212, ciR0153, ciR0149, ciR0016, ciR0044, ciR0022, ciR0381, ciR0006, and ciR0025 were found to be associated with six cannabinoids by weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Twenty-nine of 53 candidate circRNAs, including 9 cannabinoids related were validated successfully using PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing. Taken together, all these results would help to enhance our acknowledge of the regulation of circRNAs, and lay the foundation for breeding new C. sativa cultivars with high cannabinoids through manipulating circRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingting Liu
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Chang Zhang
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Mei Jiang
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Ni
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Yicen Xu
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Wuwei Wu
- Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, 530023, People's Republic of China
| | - Linfang Huang
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Steven G Newmaster
- Natural Health Product Research Alliance, College of Biological Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G2W1, Canada
| | - Chittaranjan Kole
- International Climate Resilient Crop Genomics Consortium and International Phytomedomics and Nutriomics Consortium, Kolkata, 700094, India
| | - Bin Wu
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China.
| | - Chang Liu
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China.
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Liu R, Ma Y, Guo T, Li G. Identification, biogenesis, function, and mechanism of action of circular RNAs in plants. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 4:100430. [PMID: 36081344 PMCID: PMC9860190 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2022.100430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of single-stranded, closed RNA molecules with unique functions that are ubiquitously expressed in all eukaryotes. The biogenesis of circRNAs is regulated by specific cis-acting elements and trans-acting factors in humans and animals. circRNAs mainly exert their biological functions by acting as microRNA sponges, forming R-loops, interacting with RNA-binding proteins, or being translated into polypeptides or proteins in human and animal cells. Genome-wide identification of circRNAs has been performed in multiple plant species, and the results suggest that circRNAs are abundant and ubiquitously expressed in plants. There is emerging compelling evidence to suggest that circRNAs play essential roles during plant growth and development as well as in the responses to biotic and abiotic stress. However, compared with recent advances in human and animal systems, the roles of most circRNAs in plants are unclear at present. Here we review the identification, biogenesis, function, and mechanism of action of plant circRNAs, which will provide a fundamental understanding of the characteristics and complexity of circRNAs in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Medicinal Plant Resource and Natural Pharmaceutical Chemistry, National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Development of Endangered Crude Drugs in Northwest China, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China
| | - Yu Ma
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Medicinal Plant Resource and Natural Pharmaceutical Chemistry, National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Development of Endangered Crude Drugs in Northwest China, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China
| | - Tao Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and Institute of Future Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
| | - Guanglin Li
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Medicinal Plant Resource and Natural Pharmaceutical Chemistry, National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Development of Endangered Crude Drugs in Northwest China, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710119, China.
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Jin H, Yang Z, Luo J, Li C, Chen J, Lim KJ, Wang Z. Comprehensive identification and analysis of circRNAs during hickory ( Carya cathayensis Sarg.) flower bud differentiation. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 13:1000489. [PMID: 36684801 PMCID: PMC9846342 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1000489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Flower bud differentiation represents a crucial transition from vegetative growth to reproductive development. Carya cathayensis (hickory) is an important economic species in China, with a long juvenile period that hinders its commercial development. In recent years, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been widely studied and identified as sponges for miRNA regulation of mRNA expression. However, little is known regarding the role of circRNAs in flower buds. In this study, we sequenced circRNAs at three developmental stages (undifferentiated, differentiating, and fully differentiated) in both female and male buds. A total of 6,931 circRNAs were identified in the three developmental stages and 4,449 and 2,209 circRNAs were differentially expressed in female and male buds, respectively. Gene ontology demonstrated that many circRNA host genes participated in various processes, for example, cellular and intracellular pH regulation. Function annotation identified 46 differentially expressed circRNAs involved in flowering regulation, with 28 circRNAs found only in female buds, 4 found only in male buds, and 11 found in both female and male buds. A circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network was predicted based on 13 flowering-related circRNAs and their seven putative interacting miRNAs to describe the regulatory mechanism. Our preliminary results demonstrated a potential involvement of circRNA in bud differentiation. They provided a preliminary theoretical basis for how circRNA might participate in flower development in hickory, perhaps in woody plants.
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