Non-coding RNA: chief architects of drought-resilient roots

Zahra Ghorbanzadeh, Rasmieh Hamid, Feba Jacob, Sara Asadi, Ghasem Hosseini Salekdeh, Mohammad Reza Ghaffari*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

    6 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Root system architecture is the spatial arrangement of root components within the soil and is vital in plant productivity under drought stress conditions. Upon sensing drought, roots reprogram their transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome, which further bring about changes that help in maintaining the cellular homeostasis. Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulations are the main regulatory processes that control this reprogramming by non-coding RNAs. Non-coding RNAs, control root growth, development, and stress responses through very complex and tightly interwoven networks consisting of various phytohormones, genes, and transcription factors. Numerous drought-inducible non-coding RNAs have been identified in plants which majorly target regulatory genes controlling osmotic stress tolerance, antioxidant defense, growth, development, delayed senescence, and phytohormone-mediated signaling during drought stress. Small non-coding RNAs such as microRNAs control many aspects of root development by regulating gene expression, while long non-coding RNAs regulate microRNAs by behaving as target mimics, quenchers, or decoys. Overexpression or silencing of drought-responsive non-coding RNAs has resulted in root system architecture modifications, signifying their importance in drought tolerance. Due to their ability to target multiple drought-responsive genes simultaneously, microRNAs maybe the most valuable candidate among all the non-coding RNAs, for developing drought-tolerant plants through genetic manipulation. This review summarizes discoveries in RNA-mediated gene silencing, to highlight the significance of long and small non-coding RNAs in sustaining plant homeostasis by modifying the root system architecture through gene expression regulation. The interactions between small RNAs, long non-coding RNAs and phytohormones that regulates primary root patterning are also discussed. Moreover, new research directions have been proposed to improve drought stress tolerance through micro-RNA mediated CRISPR-Cas modulation of root system architecture.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number100572
    Pages (from-to)1-13
    Number of pages13
    JournalRhizosphere
    Volume23
    Early online date5 Aug 2022
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Sept 2022

    Keywords

    • CRISPR-Cas
    • Gene regulatory networks
    • Gene silencing
    • Phenotypic plasticity
    • Root development

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Non-coding RNA: chief architects of drought-resilient roots'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this