Abstract |
Small non-coding RNAs 20-25nt in length are implicated in the regulation of important cellular functions in both animals and plants. These molecules are usually divided in two main categories, siRNAs and miRNAs, which control target genes either at the transcriptional level through DNA methylation and heterochromatin formation, or post-transcriptionally, through mRNA cleavage or translational inhibition. Except from the two main categories, whose biogenesis and function have been extensively studied, more kinds of small regulatory RNAs have been found recently, like tasiRNAs and natsiRNAs. The aim of this project is the study of a new group of endogenous small RNAs that cannot be classified in any of the known categories. We focused on Arabidopsis thaliana smallRNA100 and we tried to assess its ability to regulate the in-silico identified target CUC1. Initially, we explored the correlation between smallRNA100 and CUC1 levels in various organisms and tissues. Then we studied the effect of a number of Arabidopsis mutants known to participate in silencing pathways. SmallRNAs100 ability to cleave CUC1 was additionally checked through overexpression of both molecules in agroinfiltrated leaves. Finally, we analysed the non annotated Drosophila melanogaster homologue of C.elegans eri-1, which is known to be necessary for tncRNA production.
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