%A Shanfa Lu, Chenmin Yang, and Vincent L. Chiang %T Conservation and Diversity of MicroRNA-associated Copper-regulatory Networks in Populus Trichocarpa %0 Journal Article %D 2011 %J J Integr Plant Biol %R 10.1111/j.1744-7909.2011.01080.x %P 879-891 %V 53 %N 11 %U {https://www.jipb.net/CN/abstract/article_21765.shtml} %8 2011-10-20 %X

Plants develop important regulatory networks to adapt to the frequently-changing availability of copper (Cu). However, little is known about miRNA-associated Cu-regulatory networks in plant species other than Arabidopsis. Here, we report that Cu-responsive miRNAs in Populus trichocarpa (Torr. & Gray) include not only conserved miR397, miR398 and miR408, but also Populus-specific miR1444, suggesting the conservation and diversity of Cu-responsive miRNAs in plants. Copper-associated suppression of mature miRNAs is in company with the up-regulation of their target genes encoding Cu-containing proteins in Populus. The targets include miR397-targeted PtLAC5, PtLAC6 and PtLAC110a, miR398-targeted PtCSD1, PtCSD2a and PtCSD2b, miR408-targeted PtPCL1, PtPCL2, PtPCL3 and PtLAC4, and miR1444-targeted PtPPO3 and PtPPO6. Consistently, P. trichocarpa miR408 promoter-directed GUS gene expression is down-regulated by Cu in transgenic tobacco plants. Cu-response elements (CuREs) are found in the promoters of Cu-responsive miRNA genes. We identified 34 SQUAMOSA-promoter binding protein-like (SPL) genes, of which 17 are full-length PtSPL proteins or partial sequences with at least 300 amino acids. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that PtSPL3 and PtSPL4 are CuRE-binding proteins controlling Cu-responsive gene expression. Cu appears to be not involved in the regulation of these transcription factors because neither PtSPL3 nor PtSPL4 is Cu-regulated and no CuRE exists in their promoters.

Lu S, Yang C, Chiang VL (2011) Conservation and diversity of microrna-associated copper-regulatory networks in Populus trichocarpa. J. Integr. Plant Biol. 53(11), 879–891.