Genes 2019, 10(3), 210; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes10030210
Micromanagement of Developmental and Stress-Induced Senescence: The Emerging Role of MicroRNAs
Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Umultowska 89, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
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Received: 25 January 2019 / Revised: 22 February 2019 / Accepted: 6 March 2019 / Published: 12 March 2019
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetics of Plant Senescence)
Abstract
MicroRNAs are short (19–24-nucleotide-long), non-coding RNA molecules. They downregulate gene expression by triggering the cleavage or translational inhibition of complementary mRNAs. Senescence is a stage of development following growth completion and is dependent on the expression of specific genes. MicroRNAs control the gene expression responsible for plant competence to answer senescence signals. Therefore, they coordinate the juvenile-to-adult phase transition of the whole plant, the growth and senescence phase of each leaf, age-related cellular structure changes during vessel formation, and remobilization of resources occurring during senescence. MicroRNAs are also engaged in the ripening and postharvest senescence of agronomically important fruits. Moreover, the hormonal regulation of senescence requires microRNA contribution. Environmental cues, such as darkness or drought, induce senescence-like processes in which microRNAs also play regulatory roles. In this review, we discuss recent findings concerning the role of microRNAs in the senescence of various plant species. View Full-TextKeywords:
senescence; microRNAs; plants; drought
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Swida-Barteczka, A.; Szweykowska-Kulinska, Z. Micromanagement of Developmental and Stress-Induced Senescence: The Emerging Role of MicroRNAs. Genes 2019, 10, 210.
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