miRNA-like secondary structures in maize (Zea mays) genes and transposable elements correlate with small RNAs, methylation, and expression
Nov 1, 2023·
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1 min read
Galen T. Martin
Edwin Solares
Co-first author
,Jeanelle Guardado-Mendez
Aline Muyle
Alexandros Bousios
Brandon S. Gaut
Abstract
We discovered novel miRNA-like secondary structures in maize (Zea mays) genes and transposable elements that correlate with small RNA production, DNA methylation patterns, and gene expression levels. This finding reveals previously unknown regulatory mechanisms controlling gene activity in one of the world’s most important food crops.
Type
Publication
Genome Research
This research was featured in SDSC and ACCESS-CI press releases. The work demonstrates that RNA secondary structures play a functional role in triggering gene silencing in plants, providing new targets for crop improvement.
Key Findings:
- RNA structures strongly associated with siRNA production
- Structures explain up to 27% of variation in siRNA production
- Discovered new class of tiny RNAs with regulatory potential
Authors
Authors
Edwin Solares
(he/him)
Executive Director, ESB AI Lab Corporation
Executive Director of ESB AI Lab Corporation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advancing
research in AI, machine learning, computer vision, and genomics. Previously a
Lecturer at UC San Diego. My research harnesses AI and bioinformatics for food
security and species conservation. Published in Nature Plants, PNAS, Genome
Research, and G3 (h-index: 7).
Authors
Authors
Authors
Authors