Non-Coding RNAs in Arabidopsis: Discovery of Nuclear ncRNAs from Body Methylated Genes and of miRNA Pathway Inhibition by Conserved, Bacterial Virulence Factor

Miranda van Wonterghem

Abstract

This work evolves around elucidating the mechanisms of micro RNAs (miRNAs) in Arabidopsis thaliana. I identified a new class of nuclear non-coding RNAs derived from protein coding genes. The genes are miRNA targets with extensive gene body methylation. The RNA species are nuclear localized and despite lacking caps and poly-adenylation they are stable, which suggests that they are functional. In a second project I discovered that a conserved bacterial effector protein (HopX1) interacts with, and possibly degrades, a plant protein (MAD6) required for miRNA-guided repression of translation. The induction of the bacterial effector in plants results in defects in the miRNA activity comparable to the mutation of the MAD6 gene. Thus, the effector enables the bacterium to manipulate the essential miRNA pathway of the plant host
OriginalsprogEngelsk
ForlagDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen
Antal sider109
StatusUdgivet - 2015

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