Analysis of the melon (Cucumis melo) small RNAome by high-throughput pyrosequencing
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Author
Gonzalez-Ibeas, Daniel
Blanca, José
Donaire, Livia
Saladié, Montserrat
Mascarell-Creus, Albert
Cano-Delgado, Ana
Llave, Cesar
Aranda, Miguel A.
Publication date
2011-08-03ISSN
1471-2164
Abstract
Background: Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is a commercially important fruit crop that is cultivated worldwide. The
melon research community has recently benefited from the determination of a complete draft genome sequence
and the development of associated genomic tools, which have allowed us to focus on small RNAs (sRNAs). These
are short, non-coding RNAs 21-24 nucleotides in length with diverse physiological roles. In plants, they regulate
gene expression and heterochromatin assembly, and control protection against virus infection. Much remains to be
learned about the role of sRNAs in melon.
Results: We constructed 10 sRNA libraries from two stages of developing ovaries, fruits and photosynthetic
cotyledons infected with viruses, and carried out high-throughput pyrosequencing. We catalogued and analysed
the melon sRNAs, resulting in the identification of 26 known miRNA families (many conserved with other species),
the prediction of 84 melon-specific miRNA candidates, the identification of trans-acting siRNAs, and the
identification of chloroplast, mitochondrion and transposon-derived sRNAs. In silico analysis revealed more than 400
potential targets for the conserved and novel miRNAs.
Conclusion: We have discovered and analysed a large number of conserved and melon-specific sRNAs, including
miRNAs and their potential target genes. This provides insight into the composition and function of the melon
small RNAome, and paves the way towards an understanding of sRNA-mediated processes that regulate melon
fruit development and melon-virus interactions.
Document Type
Article
Document version
Published version
Language
English
Subject (CDU)
575 - General genetics. General cytogenetics
633 - Field crops and their production
Pages
20
Publisher
BMC
Is part of
BMC Genomics
Citation
Gonzalez-Ibeas, Daniel, José Blanca, Livia Donaire, Montserrat Saladié, Albert Mascarell-Creus, Ana Cano-Delgado, Jordi Garcia-Mas, Cesar Llave, and Miguel A Aranda. 2011. “Analysis of the Melon (Cucumis Melo) Small RNAome by High-throughput Pyrosequencing.” BMC Genomics 12 (1): 393. doi:10.1186/1471-2164-12-393
Grant agreement number
MEC/ /BIO2006-13107/ES/Análisis de la estructura y función de microARNs y otros pequeños ARNs como reguladores génicos durante las infecciones virales de las plantas/
Program
Genòmica i Biotecnologia
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- ARTICLES CIENTÍFICS [2802]
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/