CC BY 4.0 · AIMS Genet 2017; 04(02): 138-165
DOI: 10.3934/genet.2017.2.138
Research Article

In-silico based identification and functional analyses of miRNAs and their targets in Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.)

Zareen Gul
Department of Botany, University of Balochistan, Sariab Road, Quetta, Pakistan
,
Muhammad Younas Khan Barozai
Department of Botany, University of Balochistan, Sariab Road, Quetta, Pakistan
,
Muhammad Din
Department of Botany, University of Balochistan, Sariab Road, Quetta, Pakistan
› Author Affiliations
 

Abstract

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) is an important leguminous plant and a good diet due to presence of carbohydrate and high protein contents. Currently, only few cowpea microRNAs (miRNAs) are reported. This study is intended to identify and functionally analyze new miRNAs and their targets in cowpea. An in-silico based homology search approach was applied and a total of 46 new miRNAs belonging to 45 families were identified and functionally annotated from the cowpea expressed sequence tags (ESTs). All these potential miRNAs are reported here for the first time in cowpea. The 46 new miRNAs were also observed with stable hairpin structures with minimum free energy, ranging from −10 to −132 kcal mol−1 with an average of −40 kcal mol−1. The length of new cowpea miRNAs are ranged from 18 to 26 nt with an average of 21 nt. The cowpea miRNA-vun-mir4414, is found as pre-miRNA cluster for the first time in cowpea. Furthermore, a set of 138 protein targets were also identified for these newly identified 46 cowpea miRNAs. These targets have significant role in various biological processes, like metabolism, transcription regulation as transcription factor, cell transport, signal transduction, growth & development and structural proteins. These findings are the significant basis to utilize and manage this important leguminous plant-cowpea for better nutritional properties and tolerance for biotic and abiotic stresses.


#

Introduction

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are distinctive regulatory member of the small RNAs that regulate gene silencing at post-transcriptional level. Gene silencing by miRNAs is an important, advance and exciting area of present regulatory RNA research. They are endogenous, non-coding in nature and about 18 to 26 nucleotides (nt) in size. They are the negative regulator at post-transcriptional stage of gene regulation.[1] Initially, a self-folded stable hair-pin/stem-loop secondary structure termed as precursor-miRNAs (pre-miRNAs) is generate from long single strand RNA known as primary miRNA (pri-miRNA). Later the pre-miRNAs give rise a small sized (18–26nt) functional RNA known as mature miRNA. This mature miRNA is integrate into argonaute protein and advanced into the RNA induced silencing complex (RISC).[2] [3] The RISC complex having mature miRNA triggers post-transcriptional gene suppression of the messenger RNA (mRNA) either by inhibiting protein encoding or by activating mRNA degradation. This inhibition and degradation capability of the miRNA depends on the scale of complementarity between miRNA and its targeted mRNA.[4] In case of partial pairing between miRNAs and its mRNA target causes its inhibition. While, the complete pairing of miRNAs with it mRNA target causes the mRNAs degradation.[1] [5] They participate as gene regulator in almost each and every life activity, such as growth and development, foreign genes suppression, signal transduction, environmental stresses and as a defense against the attacking microbes in various living organisms.[1] [6] [7] [8] [9]. Majority of the miRNAs show conserved behavior among various plant species. Many researchers, based on this conserved nature, have identified a huge number of miRNAs using comparative genomic approaches in a wide range of plant species, including cowpea,[10] Brassicanapus,[11] Glycinemax,[12] cotton species,[13] [14] Zeamays,[15] tobacco,[16] switch grass,[17] Phaseolus,[18] tomato,[19] eggplant[20] and chilli.[21] These reports strongly suggest that comparative genomic strategies are valid, highly efficient, convenient, and economical-friendly methods to identify new miRNAs.

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) is an important leguminous crop of Asia, Africa, Southern Europe and USA.[22] It is a good food due to the presence of carbohydrate and high protein contents. This makes it not only essential diet to the human, but also serve as fodder to livestock. Cowpea is also significant to grow under low soil fertility, heat and drought. It is a key constituent of low-input farming systems for farmers. Cowpea also play vital role in the nitrogen fixation which is necessary for the enhancement of soil productiveness.[22] [23] Very little reports and data are available about the miRNAs in this important plant. According to the latest version of miRNA registry database (Version Rfam 21.0, released June, 2014),[24] only few miRNAs are available for cowpea. This situation demands to focus and profile new miRNAs and their targets in cowpea that will act as preliminary data to manage and understand the cowpea at molecular level.

Consequently, a total of 46 new miRNAs belonging to 45 families in cowpea were identified. In this study, one miRNA gene was also found as pre-miRNA cluster (vun-mir4414). Furthermore, these newly identified miRNAs were also validated for their protein targets.


#

Materials and methods

Identification of raw sequences

A similar methodology[15] with a little modification as described by Barozai MYK, et al.[13] was applied to profile the potential miRNAs from cowpea expressed sequence tags (ESTs). As reference miRNAs, a total of 4739 known plant miRNA sequences, both precursors and matures, were downloaded from the microRNA registry database (Version Rfam 21.0 released June, 2014),[24] and subjected to basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) for alignment against publicly available 187487 ESTs of cowpea from the dbEST (database of EST), release 130101 at http://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi, using BLASTn program.[25]


#

Creation of single tone EST

The repeated ESTs from the same gene were eliminated and a single tone EST per miRNA was produced by using BLASTn program against the cowpea EST database with default parameters.[25]


#

Elimination of coding sequences

The initial potential miRNA sequences of cowpea, predicted by the mature source miRNAs, were checked for protein coding. The FASTA format of initial potential sequences were subjected against protein database at NCBI using BLASTX with default parameter[26] and the protein coding sequences were removed.


#

Creation of hair-pen structures

The initial potential candidate cowpea miRNA sequences, confirming as non-protein coding nature, having 0–4 mismatches with the reference miRNAs and representing single tone gene were subjected to generate hair-pen or secondary structures. Publicly available Zuker folding algorithm http://www.bioinfo.rpi.edu/applications/mfold/rna/form1.cgi, known as MFOLD (version 3.6)[27] was used to predict the secondary structures. The MFOLD parameters were adjusted same as published by various researchers for the identification of miRNAs in various plant and animal species.[7] [8] [28] For physical scrutinizing, the hair-pen structures either showing the lowest free energy ≦−18 kcal mol−1 or less than or equal to the lowest free energy of the reference miRNAs were preferred. The Ambros et al.[29] threshold values were applied as reference to finalize the potential miRNAs in cowpea. The stem regions of the stem-loop structures were checked and confirmed for the mature sequences with either at least 16 or equal to the reference miRNAs base pairing involved in Watson-Crick or G/U base pairing between the mature miRNA and the opposite strand (miRNA*).


#

Convergence and phylogenetic analysis

The convergence and phylogenetic analysis was carried out for the one of conserved cowpea miRNA (vun-mir398). Simply, the vun-mir398, for its conserved behavior in different plant species was checked for convergence and phylogenetic investigation. The vun-mir398 alignment was created with Glycine max (gma), Nicotiana tabacum (nta) and Cucumis melo (cme) by the publicly accessible web logo: a sequence logo generator and ClustalW to produce cladogram tree using neighbor joining clustering method respectively. The results were saved.


#

Prediction of miRNAs targets

Dual schemes were used to predict the potential targets for cowpea miRNAs. In the first scheme, the newly identified cowpea miRNAs were subjected to psRNATarget (http://bioinfo3.noble.org/psRNATarget), with default parameters.[30] The cowpea miRNAs that not produced potential targets through psRNATarget, were subjected to the second scheme as described by Barozai.[31] Briefly, the cowpea mature miRNA sequences were subjected as queries through BLASTn program. The parameters were adjusted as, database: reference mRNA sequences (refseq_rnat); organism: Vigna unguiculata (taxid:4072) and Program Selection: highly similar sequences (megablast). The mRNA sequences showing ≧75% query coverage were selected and further subjected to RNA hybrid—a miRNA target prediction tool.[32] Only targets, confirming stringent seed site located at either positions 2–7 and/or 8–13 from the 5″ end of the miRNAs along with the supplementary site and having minimum free energy (MFE) ≦−20 kcal mol−1 were selected. For more stringency, these targets were subjected to the NTNU microRNA target prediction tool available at http://tare.medisin.ntnu.no/mirna_target/search#results, to confirm the RNA hybrid results. These predicted targets were further analyzed through Gene Ontology (GO) on AmiGO website.


#
#

Results and discussion

The new cowpea miRNAs

In order to identify and characterize the potential miRNAs in cowpea, a comparative genomic approach was applied using bioinformatics tools. This is in agreement with the previous reports,[8] [28] [31] that the homology based search by applying comparative genomics is a valid and logical approach to find interesting findings in plants at genomic level. The current study resulted a total of 46 new conserved miRNAs from the analyses of 187487 cowpea ESTs using bioinformatics tools ([Table 1]). The 46 potential cowpea miRNAs belong to 45 families (vun-miR: 398, 413, 435, 834, 1512, 1514, 1525, 1848, 2095, 2606, 2609, 2622, 2630, 2636, 2657, 2678, 2950, 3434, 4351, 4392, 4408, 4414 (cluster), 4992, 4996, 5012, 5043, 5215, 5216, 5219, 5227, 5241, 5246, 5255, 5261, 5280, 5290, 5298, 5376, 5561, 5758, 5770, 6252, 7696, 8182, 9748). The vun-miR4414 family is observed as cluster pre-miRNA. Available miRNAs literature revealed that all these 46 miRNAs are profiled for the first time in cowpea. In the light of the empirical formula for biogenesis and expression of the miRNAs suggested by Ambros et al.,[29] these miRNAs are considered as a valid candidate after justifying the criteria B, C and D. According to Ambros et al.[29] only the criterion D is enough for homologous sequences to validate as potential miRNAs in other species. The present study is in agreement with the other research groups,[21] [33] [34] [35] [36] where similarity based search by applying comparative genomics has produced novel and interesting findings in plants genomics.

Zoom Image
Fig. 1 Distribution of the newly identified cowpea pre-miRNAs on the basis of their length.
Table 1

The newly identified conserved cowpea miRNAs characterization. Cowpea miRNAs were characterized in terms of precursor miRNA length (PL), minimum free energy (MFE), mature sequence (MS), number of mismatches (NM) (represented in bold red and enlarged font size), mature sequence length (ML), source EST (SE), mature sequence arm (MSA), GC content percentage (GC%), SL = Strand Location and organ of expression (OE)

vun miRNAs

Ref. miRNAs

PL

MFE

MS

NM

ML

SE #

MSA

GC%

SL

OE

vun-mir398

mtr-mir398a

131

−32.24

TGTGTTCTCAGGTCGCCCCTG

2

21

FF542932

5″

61.90

+

leaves

vun-mir413

ath-mir413

353

−88.55

TTAGTTTCTCTTGTTCTGCTT

2

21

FG940215

5″

33.33

+

mixed

vun-mir435

osa-mir435

347

−124.38

TTATGAGGCTTTGGAGTTGA

4

20

FG811172

3″

40.00

+

mixed

vun-mir834

ath-mir834

135

−52.95

TGGTAGCAGTGGCGGTGGTGG

3

21

FG822669

3″

66.66

mixed

vun-mir1512

gma-mir1512a

46

−10.60

CCTTTAAGAATTTCA-TTA--

4

18

FG880488

3″

22.22

mixed

vun-mir1514

gma-mir1514

127

−31.70

TTCATTTCTAAAATAGGCATC

2

21

FF388166

5″

28.57

root

vun-mir1525

gma-mir1525

78

−14.10

GGGGTTAAATATGTTTTTAGT

3

21

FG845219

5″

28.57

+

mixed

vun-mir1848

osa-mir1848

77

−32.20

CGCTCGCCGGCGCGCGCGTCCA

2

22

FG920123

3″

86.36

+

mixed

vun-mir2095

osa-mir2095

57

−17.20

CTTCCATTTATGACATGTTT

3

20

FG838629

5″

30.00

mixed

vun-mir2606

mtr-mir2606a

69

−13.00

TTGAAGTGCTTGGTTCTCACT

4

21

FG931806

5″

42.85

+

mixed

vun-mir2609

mtr-mir2609a

70

−13.00

TTGAAGTGCTTGGTTCTCACT

4

21

FG931806

5″

42.85

+

mixed

vun-mir2622

mtr-mir2622

210

−36.85

CTTGTGTGCCATTGTGAGCTTA

3

22

FG900047

3″

42.85

mixed

vun-mir2630

mtr-mir2630a

114

−24.70

TGGTTTTGGTCTTTGGTTTTA

3

21

FF391380

5″

33.33

+

root

vun-mir2636

mtr-mit2636

191

−29.40

GGATGTTAGTGTGCTGAATAT

4

21

FG814033

5″

38.09

mixed

vun-mir2657

mtr-mir2657

156

−35.38

TTTTATTGTATTGATTTTGTTG

4

22

FG926034

5″

18.18

mixed

vun-mir2678

mtr-mir2678

136

−39.32

TAAAGTTGTTGCGCGTGTC

3

19

FF389500

3″

47.36

root

vun-mir2950

mes-mir2950

347

−83.20

TTCCATCTCTTGCAGACTGAA

2

21

FG872933

5″

42.85

mixed

vun-mir3434

ath-mir3434

78

−17.40

TGAGAGTATCAGCCATGAGA

2

20

FF392538

3″

45.00

root

vun-mir4351

gma-mir4351

148

−63.30

GTTAGGGTTCAGTTGGAGTTGG

3

22

FG936300

3″

50.00

mixed

vun-mir4392

gma-mir4392

306

−80.53

TCTGTGAGAACGTGATTTCGGA

3

22

FG857306

5″

45.45

+

mixed

vun-mir4408

gma-mir4408

66

−20.70

CAACAACATTGGATGAGTATAGGA

4

24

FG894682

3″

37.5

+

mixed

vun-mir4414a

vun-mir4414b

mtr-mir4414a

120

−42.20

AGCTGCTGACTCGTTGGTTCA

ATTCAACGATGCGGGAGCTGC

0

1

21

21

FF537171

5″

3″

52.38

57.14

+

+

leaves

vun-mir4992

gma-mir4992

63

−21.20

CATCTAAGATGGTTTTTTTCAG

4

22

FG926352

3″

31.81

mixed

vun-mir4996

gma-mir4996

163

−49.83

TAGAAGTTACCCATGTTCTC

2

20

FF388735

3″

40.00

root

vun-mir5012

ath-mir5012

172

−43.44

TTTTGCTGCTCCGTGTGTTCC

3

21

FG809429

3″

52.38

+

mixed

vun-mir5043

gma-mir5043

125

−48.20

CTTCTCCTTCTCTGCACCACC

3

21

FG810406

5″

57.14

+

mixed

vun-mir5215

mtr-mir5215

181

−49.63

AGGAGGATGAGCTAGTTGATT

3

21

FG939979

5″

42.85

+

mixed

vun-mir5216

mtr-mir5216a

124

−27.58

TTGGGAGTGAAAAACAGTGGAA

2

22

FF399948

5″

40.90

+

root

vun-mir5219

mtr-mir5219

107

−25.23

TCATGGAATCTCAGCTGCAGCAG

1

23

FG850600

3″

52.17

mixed

vun-mir5227

mtr-mir5227

140

−18.04

AGAACAGAAGAAGATTGAAGAA

3

22

FG915684

5″

31.81

mixed

vun-mir5241

mtr-mir5241a

381

−119.80

TGGGTGAATGGAAGAGTGAAT

3

21

FG904590

3″

42.85

+

mixed

vun-mir5246

mtr-mir5246

68

−18.70

CACCAGAGAGCTTTGAAGGTT

4

21

FG856911

3″

47.61

+

mixed

vun-mir5255

mtr-mir5255

54

−10.40

TGACAGGATAGAGGACATGAC

4

21

FG910302

5″

47.61

mixed

vun-mir5261

mtr-mir5261

311

−71.81

CGATTGTAGATGGCTTTGGCT

3

21

FG838847

5″

47.61

mixed

vun-mir5280

mtr-mir5280

90

−20.22

TAAGTAGAAACGGGCCGAGATCGGGG

4

26

FG915361

5″

57.69

mixed

vun-mir5290

mtr-mir5290

217

−30.24

AAAGTAGAGAGAGAAAGACACATA

4

24

FG852502

5″

33.33

+

mixed

vun-mir5298

mtr-mir5298a

192

−36.58

TGGATTTCAAGATGAAGATGAAGAA

4

25

FF402284

3″

32.00

root

vun-mir5376

gma-mir5376

341

−132.02

TGGAGATTGTGAAGAATTTGAGA

3

23

FG872123

3″

34.78

+

mixed

vun-mir5561

mtr-mir5561

346

−69.34

ATCTCTCTCTCTCTAAATGTA

3

21

FF390124

5″

33.33

root

vun-mir5758

mtr-mir5758

91

−22.60

TAAGTTGGATCTATGTATTTG

3

21

FG893334

3″

28.57

+

mixed

vun-mir5770

gma-mir5770a

98

−30.40

TTAGGACTATGGTTTGGATGA

1

21

FG937135

3″

38.09

mixed

vun-mir6252

osa-mir6252

90

−20.90

ATGAGTTGTGTTGAGAGAGGGTT

4

23

FG841373

3″

43.47

mixed

vun-mir7696

mtr-mir7696a

173

−33.67

ACAAGTACTTA-AATTCAAAA

4

20

FG864277

3″

20.00

mixed

vun-mir8182

ath-mir8182

170

−31.80

TTGTGTTGCGTTTGTGATGACT

3

22

FG942892

5″

40.90

mixed

vun-mir9748

gma-mir9748

98

−32.45

GAAGGAAGTGTTGAGGGAGGAG

3

22

FG921211

5″

54.54

+

mixed

Zoom Image
Fig. 2 Distribution and classification of newly identified cowpea miRNAs on the basis of their minimum free energies (MFEs).
Zoom Image
Fig. 3 Distribution of the cowpea miRNAs mismatches (nt) with their reference miRNAs.
Zoom Image
Fig. 4 Distribution of the cowpea mature miRNAs for their length.

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Characterization of cowpea miRNAs

Characterization of newly identified candidate miRNAs is a set crucial step for their validation, as reported earlier.[16] [17] [37] The pre-miRNA length of the profiled cowpea miRNAs ranges from 46 to 381 nt with an average of 159 nt. The pre-miRNAs were further illustrated on the basis of their length ([Figure 1]). The minimum folding free energy (MFE) of pre-miRNA is a vital and valid term of characterization. The newly identified potential cowpea pre-miRNAs have shown MFEs in range from −10 to −132 kcal mol−1 with an average of −40 kcal mol−1 as shown in [Figure 2]. The numbers of mismatches of mature sequences with their reference sequences were observed in a range of 0–4 with an average of three mismatches as categorized in [Figure 3]. These values are matched with the previously reported values in different plants.[21] [37]–[39] Mature miRNA sequences lengths were observed from 18 to 26 nt with an average of 21 nt as explained in [Figure 4]. These findings of mature sequences length are in agreement to prior published data in other plant species.[16] [17] [18] [36] The 52% cowpea miRNAs sequences were found at 5″ arm, while 48% were at 3″ arm ([Figure 5(A)],[6]). The GC content was found from 18 to 86% with an average of 42% as shown in [Figure 7]. Strand orientation is another important character for the generation of mature miRNAs transcripts. In this study, 24 mature miRNAs were found on minus strand while 22 were observed on plus strand of the transcripts ([Figure 8]). The same results for plus and minus strand orientation of mature miRNAs are in agreement with the earlier research work.[40] The identified conserved cowpea miRNAs were also characterized on the basis of their organ of expression as presented in [Figure 9]. These findings are similar with the earlier reports[37] and suggesting organ dependent expression pattern of miRNAs in cowpea. The miRNA organ specific expression would be utilized to manage the organogenesis in cowpea. The secondary self-folded stem-loop structures of the cowpea pre-miRNAs are observed with at least 17 nucleotides engaged in Watson-Crick or G/U base pairing between the mature miRNA and the opposite arms (miRNAs*) in the stem region ([Figure 10]). Except few where the reference miRNAs have also less base pairing and these precursors do not contain large internal loops or bulges. The mature miRNA sequences are observed in the double stranded stem region of the pre-miRNA secondary structures, as shown in [Figure 5(A)]. Almost similar findings for various plant and animal species were reported by many researchers.[16] [17] [20] [37] [41] [42] Furthermore, the newly identified cowpea miRNAs were also confirmed as non-protein coding nature by showing no significant similarity with known proteins. This validation strengthens the expressed nature for computationally identified miRNAs as non-coding RNAs. Similar results were observed in various research papers by many groups.[16] [43] [44]


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Cluster pre-miRNA gene in cowpea

In animals, a large number of miRNAs have been found in clusters and have been predicted to have similar expression profiles and functions.[45] The miRNA clusters have rarely been detected in plants. They were first reported by Jones-Rhoades and Bartel.[46] In this study, we also identified one pre-miRNA (mir4414) as cluster in cowpea having two mature miRNAs within [Figure 5(B)]. On the basis of current available literature, this miRNA family (miR4414) was found for the first time in cowpea as a cluster.


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Convergence and phylogenetic studies

The newly characterized cowpea miRNA vun-mir398, due to its conserved nature, was investigated for convergence and phylogeny. Simply, the cowpea miRNA vun-mir398 alignment and cladogram tree, using neighbour joining clustering method, were created with Glycine max (gma), Nicotiana tabacum (nta) and Cucumis melo (cme) by the publicly available Web-Logo, a sequence logo generator[47] and ClustalW, a multiple sequence alignment tool.[48] The cowpea miRNA vun-mir398 is observed in convergence with Glycine max (gma), Nicotiana tabacum (nta) and Cucumis melo (cme) as shown in [Figure 11(A)]. The Phylogenetic cladogram tree, as illustrated in [Figure 11(B)], clearly showed that on the basis of sharing a more recent common ancestor the cowpea miRNA is more closely related to Glycine max (gma) than Nicotiana tabacum (nta) and Cucumis melo (cme). Zeng et al.[49] have also reported conserved nature in Euphorbiaceous plants.


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The potential cowpea miRNAs targeted genes

Profiling the potential cowpea miRNAs targeted genes is a vital step for validation of the computationally identified miRNAs. A total of 138 targeted genes were predicted for the 46 potential cowpea miRNAs. The detail description is mentioned in [Table 2]. Different cowpea miRNAs targeting same proteins and vice versa were predicted here. This showed that one miRNA target more than one mRNAs and a single mRNA targets by many miRNAs.[50] The profiled targeted genes are categories as, 27% (37 of 138) are engaged in metabolism, 26% (36 of 138) are playing role as transcription factors, 11% (15 of 138) are involved in transport activities, 11% (15 of 138) are shown with stress related, and the rest are engaged in hypothetical protein, signal transduction, growth and development, structural proteins and diseases related. Almost all of these targets were already reported as miRNA targets in other plants.[7] [16] [17]

Zoom Image
Fig. 5 (A) The newly identified cowpea miRNAs' secondary structures. Cowpea pre-miRNAs secondary structures were developed through Mfold algorithm. These structures clearly showing the mature miRNAs in stem portion of the stem-loop structures. (B) Cowpea pre-miRNA cluster. Cowpea miRNA (vun-miR4414) was found as a pre-miRNA cluster with two mature miRNAs (miR4414a and miR4414b). The pre-miRNA cluster secondary structure was created by Mfold (version 3.6), showing mature sequences in green within the same pre-miRNA sequence.
Zoom Image
Fig. 6 Distribution of mature miRNAs location on the either arms of hair-pen structures and numbers (frequency%) of miRNAs occurring.
Zoom Image
Fig. 7 Percentage distribution of GC content and numbers (frequency%) of miRNAs occurring.
Zoom Image
Fig. 8 Percentage distribution of strand orientation and numbers (frequency%) of miRNAs occurring.
Zoom Image
Fig. 9 Percentage distribution of organ expression and numbers (frequency%) of miRNAs occurring.
Zoom Image
Fig. 10 Percentage distribution of base pairing between the mature miRNA and the opposite arms (miRNAs*) in the stem region and numbers (frequency%) of miRNAs occurring.

Majority (27%) of the newly characterized cowpea miRNAs are observed to regulate the metabolic proteins. Such findings regarding metabolism related genes targeted by miRNAs are similar with the prior publications in plants and animals.[28] [43] [44] Pectin methylesterase (PME) is an important enzyme that acts on pectin, a major component of plant cell wall. PME catalyzes reactions according to the double-displacement mechanism.[51] In this study, the PME is predicted as a putative target for vun-miR1882. Thus the vun-miR1882 is a valuable resource to regulate cell wall. Another important enzyme ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco) is a key enzyme in photosynthesis and photorespiration, where it catalyzes the fixation of CO2 and O2, respectively. Due to its rate-limiting property in photosynthesis, it is the prime focus of improving the plant productivity.[52] The cowpea miRNA (vun-miR2657) is predicted to target this important enzyme which is the potential resource to modify Rubisco expression and ultimately plant productivity.

Table 2

Targets of cowpea miRNAs: As predicted by psRNAtarget and RNA hybrid in terms of miRNA family number, target acc., target description and function

miRNA

Target Acc.

Target Description

Function

Alignment

vun-mir398

TC8412

Predicted protein

Hypothetical protein

miRNA 21 GUCCCCGCUGGACUCUUGUGU 1

::::::::.:::: ::::::

Target 24 CAGGGACGAUCUGAUAACACA 44

vun-mir413

TC18010

H/ACA ribonucleoprotein complex

Transcription factor

miRNA 21 UUCGUCUUGUUCUCUUUGAUU 1

:::::::::::::::::::::

Target 432 AAGCAGAACAAGAGAAACUAA 452

vun-mir413

FF538223

Tropinone reductase

Metabolism

miRNA 21 UUCGUCUUGUUCUCUUUGAUU 1

.:::::::.:: .:.::::::

Target 321 GAGCAGAAUAAUGGGAACUAA 341

vun-mir413

TC16544

Valyl-tRNA synthetase

Metabolism

miRNA 21 UUCGUCUUGUUCUCUUUGAUU 1

:.::::::::::.:::. :::

Target 1013 AGGCAGAACAAGGGAAGAUAA 1033

vun-mir413

TC9044

Uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase

Metabolism

miRNA 21 UUCGUCUUGUUCUCUUUGAUU 1

.:: :::: :::::::.::.:

Target 59 GAGAAGAAGAAGAGAAGCUGA 79

vun-mir435

TC9534

Chromosome chr12 scaffold_238,

Hypothetical protein

miRNA 20 AGUUGAGGUUUCGGAGUAUU 1

:::::::::: :..::::.:

Target 242 UCAACUCCAAUGUUUCAUGA 261

vun-mir435

FF387447

Chromosome chr9 scaffold_7,

Hypothetical protein

miRNA 20 AGUUGAGGUUUCGGAGUAUU 1

::::.:.:::.::::: :::

Target 386 UCAAUUUCAAGGCCUCCUAA 405

vun-mir435

TC16349

Ripening related protein

Growth and development

miRNA 20 AGUUGAGGUUUCGGAGUAUU 1

:.::::::::: :.:.::.:

Target 523 UUAACUCCAAAACUUUAUGA 542

vun-mir435

FG810938

Protein kinase

Signal transduction

miRNA 20 AGUUGAGGUUUCGGAGUAUU 1

::: :::::: :::::.::.

Target 474 UCACCUCCAAUGCCUCGUAG 493

vun-mir834

TC4272

SCOF-1

Transcription factor

miRNA 21 GGUGGUGGCGGUGACGAUGGU 1

:::::.::::::: :.:::::

Target 281 CCACCGCCGCCACCGUUACCA 301

vun-mir834

TC8566

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenase CYP83E9

Metabolism

miRNA 20 GUGGUGGCGGUGACGAUGGU 1

:::::: ::::::::::::

Target 465 CACCAACACCACUGCUACCA 484

vun-mir834

TC7191

DnaJ-like protein

Stress related

miRNA 21 GGUGGUGGCGGUGACGAUGGU 1

::.::::::::::::: :::.

Target 173 CCGCCACCGCCACUGCAACCG 193

vun-mir834

FG876294

Zinc finger-like protein

Transcription factor

miRNA 21 GGUGGUGGCGGUGACGAUGGU 1

::::::::::::: :: ::::

Target 138 CCACCACCGCCACCGCCACCA 158

vun-mir834

TC4023

GroEL-like chaperone, ATPase

Stress related

miRNA 21 GGUGGUGGCGGUGACGAUGGU 1

:: ::.:::::.:::::.:::

Target 78 CCUCCGCCGCCGCUGCUGCCA 98

vun-mir834

TC7031

Oxophytodienoate reductase

Metabolism

miRNA 21 GGUGGUGGCGGUGACGAUGGU 1

.::.::.:::::::::: :::

Target 19 UCAUCAUCGCCACUGCUUCCA 39

vun-mir834

TC15421

MYB

Transcription factor

miRNA 20 GUGGUGGCGGUGACGAUGGU 1

..:.::.::.::::::::::

Target 955 UGCUACUGCUACUGCUACCA 974

vun-mir834

GH622195

Ribosomal protein

Structural protein

miRNA 21 GGUGGUGGCGGUGACGAUGGU 1

:::::.:::::::: :::::

Target 110 CCACCGCCGCCACUUCUACCU 130

vun-mir834

TC7768

Calcium-binding EF-hand)

Transcription factor

miRNA 21 GGUGGUGGCGGUGACGAUGGU 1

..::.::.:..::::.:::::

Target 470 UUACUACUGUUACUGUUACCA 490

vun-mir1512

XM_013230906

Biomphalaria glabrata dual oxidase

Metabolism

target 5″ C U 3″ AAUGAAAUUCUUAAAGG UUACUUUAAGAAUUUCC miRNA 3″ A 5″

vun-mir1512

XM_006957329

Nucleoside triphosphate hydrolase protein

Transcription factor

target 5″ U A 3″ UAAUGAAAUUCUUAAAG AUUACUUUAAGAAUUUC miRNA 3″ C 5″

vun-mir1512

KC463855

NB-LRR receptor (RSG3-301)

Transcription factor

target 5″ C CCC GG U 3″ AAUGA AA CUUGAAGG UUACU UU GAAUUUCC miRNA 3″ A AA 5″

vun-mir1512

EF076031

Phosphatidic acid phosphatase alpha (PAPa)

Metabolism

target 5″ A AAGGGG G A 3″ UGGUGAAA UC UAAAGG AUUACUUU AG AUUUCC miRNA 3″ A A 5″

vun-mir1512

AF413209

Dolichos biflorus chloroplast ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase

Metabolism

target 5″ C G 3″ UGGUGAAAU UAAAGG AUUACUUUA AUUUCC miRNA 3″ AGA 5″

vun-mir1514

FF388166

NAC domain-containing protein 78

Transcription factor

miRNA 21 CUACGGAUAAAAUCUUUACUU 1

:::::::::::::::::::::

Target 687 GAUGCCUAUUUUAGAAAUGAA 707

vun-mir1514

FF540114

Phosphate transporter family protein

transporter

miRNA 20 UACGGAUAAAAUCUUUACUU 1

::::::.::::.::::::::

Target 461 AUGCCUGUUUUGGAAAUGAA 480

vun-mir1514

TC15423

NAM-like protein

Transcription factor

miRNA 20 UACGGAUAAAAUCUUUACUU 1

::::::.::::.::::::::

Target 589 AUGCCUGUUUUGGAAAUGAA 608

vun-mir1514

TC869

ATP-binding cassette sub-family f member 2

Transporter

miRNA 21 CUACGGAUAAAAUCUUUACUU 1

:: ::.:::: ::::::::::

Target 733 GAGGCUUAUUCUAGAAAUGAA 753

vun-mir1514

FG830151

Starch branching enzyme

Metabolism

miRNA 20 UACGGAUAAAAUCUUUACUU 1

::::: ::::::::.::::

Target 314 AUGCCAAUUUUAGAGAUGAU 333

vun-mir1514

TC5197

Cytochrome c biogenesis protein-like

Transporter

miRNA 20 UACGGAUAAAAUCUUUACUU 1

:: .::::::::::.::::

Target 749 AUAUCUAUUUUAGAGAUGAU 768

vun-mir1525

TC17248

Salt-tolerance protein

Stress related

miRNA 21 UGAUUUUUGUAUAAAUUGGGG 1

::::::::::::::::::.:.

Target 306 ACUAAAAACAUAUUUAACUCU 326

vun-mir1525

FG915097

UDP-N-acetylmuramoylalanine-D-glutamate ligase

Transcription factor

miRNA 21 UGAUUUUUGUAUAAAUUGGGG 1

::::::::.::::::.::::

Target 468 ACUAAAAAUAUAUUUGACCCA 488

vun-mir1525

TC14268

Non-specific lipid-transfer protein

transporter

miRNA 20 GAUUUUUGUAUAAAUUGGGG 1

::.:::...:::::::::.:

Target 505 CUGAAAGUGUAUUUAACCUC 524

vun-mir1525

TC18336

Heat shock protein

Stress related

miRNA 20 GAUUUUUGUAUAAAUUGGGG 1

.:.:..:.::::::.:::::

Target 166 UUGAGGAUAUAUUUGACCCC 185

vun-mir1848

EG424245

Radical SAM domain protein

Metabolism

miRNA 20 CUGCGCGCGCGGCCGCUCGC 1

:: ::: :::: ::::::::

Target 110 GAAGCGAGCGCAGGCGAGCG 129

vun-mir2095

FF402667

Resistance protein MG55

Stress related

miRNA 20 UUUGUACAGUAUUUACCUUC 1

.: :.::::::::::::::

Target 592 GAUCGUGUCAUAAAUGGAAU 611

vun-mir2095

TC2784

Vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 26-like protein

transporter

miRNA 20 UUUGUACAGUAUUUACCUUC 1

::::::::::: .: :::::

Target 824 AAACAUGUCAUCGAAGGAAG 843

vun-mir2606

TC406838

SNF1 related protein kinase

Signal transduction

miRNA 20 CACUCUUGGUUCGUGAAGUU 1

: :::::. :::::::::::

Target 1051 GAGAGAAUAAAGCACUUCAA 1070

vun-mir2606

TC401737

ATP binding protein

Transcription factor

miRNA 20 CACUCUUGGUUCGUGAAGUU 1

:::::::.::::.:::::

Target 242 UCGAGAACCGAGCAUUUCAA 261

vun-mir2606

NP305366

Hypothetical protein

Hypothetical protein

miRNA 21 UCACUCUUGGUUCGUGAAGUU 1

: ::::::.:.::.::::::.

Target 420 ACUGAGAAUCGAGUACUUCAG 440

vun-mir2609

NP038997

Jasmonate induced protein

Stress related

miRNA 21 UCACUCUUGGUUCGUGAAGUU 1

: ::.:: :::::::::::::

Target 220 ACUGGGAUCCAAGCACUUCAA 240

vun-mir2609

NP568563

SEC14-like protein

Transcription factor

miRNA 21 UCACUCUUGGUUCGUGAAGUU 1

:: :::::::::: ::::.::

Target 417 AGCGAGAACCAAGGACUUUAA 437

vun-mir2609

TC406838

SNF1 related protein kinase-like protein

Signal transduction

miRNA 20 CACUCUUGGUUCGUGAAGUU 1

: :::::. :::::::::::

Target 1051 GAGAGAAUAAAGCACUUCAA 1070

vun-mir2609

TC401737

ATP binding protein

Signal transduction

miRNA 20 CACUCUUGGUUCGUGAAGUU 1

:::::::.::::.:::::

Target 242 UCGAGAACCGAGCAUUUCAA 261

vun-mir2622

TC9003

Alpha-expansin 2

Metabolism

miRNA 22 AUUCGAGUGUUACCGUGUGUUC 1

::::::::::::::::::::::

Target 64 UAAGCUCACAAUGGCACACAAG 85

vun-mir2630

TC15462

Auxin influx transport protein

Transporter

miRNA 20 UUUUGGUUUCUGGUUUUGGU 1

::::::::: :::::::::

Target 293 AAAACCAAAAACCAAAACCU 312

vun-mir2630

FF390661

Serine/arginine repetitive matrix 1

Transcription factor

miRNA 20 UUUUGGUUUCUGGUUUUGGU 1

::::: ::: ::::::::::

Target 349 AAAACAAAAAACCAAAACCA 368

vun-mir2630

FG865319

Monosaccharid transport protein

Transporter

miRNA 20 UUUUGGUUUCUGGUUUUGGU 1

:::.:::::::.::.::::

Target 109 UAAAUCAAAGACUAAGACCA 128

vun-mir2630

TC4441

Ras-related protein RAB8-1

Transcription factor

miRNA 20 UUUUGGUUUCUGGUUUUGGU 1

::::.:::: ::::::::::

Target 75 AAAAUCAAA-ACCAAAACCA 93

vun-mir2630

TC1550

Homeodomain leucine zipper protein HDZ3

Transcription factor

miRNA 21 AUUUUGGUUUCUGGUUUUGGU 1

:.::::..:. ::::::::::

Target 1253 UGAAACUGAGAACCAAAACCA 1273

vun-mir2630

FC457466

Pseudouridylate synthase

Metabolism

miRNA 21 AUUUUGGUUUCUGGUUUUGGU 1

:::::. :..:::.:::::::

Target 504 UAAAAUGAGGGACUAAAACCA 524

vun-mir2630

TC6720

Ubiquitin carrier protein

Transporter

miRNA 20 UUUUGGUUUCUGGUUUUGGU 1

:::::::::: ::::: .::

Target 685 AAAACCAAAGCCCAAAUUCA 704

vun-mir2636

TC7750

NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase chain 2

Metabolism

miRNA 21 UAUAAGUCGUGUGAUUGUAGG 1

:::::.::::::::::.: .:

Target 225 AUAUUUAGCACACUAAUAAUC 245

vun-mir2636

FF537611

Na+/H+ antiporter

Metabolism

miRNA 20 AUAAGUCGUGUGAUUGUAGG 1

: :::::::::::..:::..

Target 25 UCUUCAGCACACUGGCAUUU 44

vun-mir2636

TC1711

Beta-1,3-glucanase-like protein

Metabolism

miRNA 19 UAAGUCGU-GUGAUUGUAGG 1

: :::::: :::::::::::

Target 1279 AAUCAGCAACACUAACAUCC 1298

vun-mir2657

TC7897

Proteinase inhibitor 20

Metabolism

miRNA 20 UGUUUUAGUUAUGUUAUUUU 1

:.::::: ::::.:::::::

Target 934 AUAAAAUAAAUAUAAUAAAA 953

vun-mir2657

FG852576

Heat shock protein 70 cognate

Stress related

miRNA 22 GUUGUUUUAGUUAUGUUAUUUU 1

:::.:.:::::::. :::.:::

Target 77 CAAUAGAAUCAAUGAAAUGAAA 98

vun-mir2657

TC5942

2,4-D inducible glutathione S-transferase

Metabolism

miRNA 21 UUGUUUUAGUUAUGUUAUUUU 1

::.:::::. ::..:::::::

Target 745 AAUAAAAUUUAUGUAAUAAAA 765

vun-mir2678

EF472252

Bound starch synthase

Metabolism

target 5″ U UG UG A 3″ GGC G GCA GAC CUG C CGU UUG miRNA 3″ UG G UG AAAU 5″

vun-mir2678

D88122

CPRD46 protein

Stress related

target 5″ U C G 3″ GCGCGUA CAACUU UGCGCGU GUUGAA miRNA 3″ CUG U AU 5″

vun-mir2678

AY466858

Peroxisomal ascorbate peroxidase

Metabolism

target 5″ U A C A 3″ GGCACG UG CGGC ACUU CUGUGC GC GUUG UGAA miRNA 3″ U AU 5″

vun-mir2678

AB028025

YLD mRNA for regulatory protein

Metabolism

target 5″ A CCA C G 3″ GCGC GCG CGGCGAC UGUG CGC GUUGUUG miRNA 3″ C AAAU 5″

vun-mir2950

TC11773

F-box/Kelch-repeat protein

Transcription factor

miRNA 21 AAGUCAGACGUUCUCUACCUU 1

:::::::::::::::::::::

Target 614 UUCAGUCUGCAAGAGAUGGAA 634

vun-mir2950

TC2831

Ethylene responsive protein

Stress related

miRNA 20 AGUCAGACGUUCUCUACCUU 1

:..:: ::.::::::::::.

Target 1700 UUGGUAUGUAAGAGAUGGAG 1719

vun-mir3434

TC7167

Protein transport protein Sec24-like At3g07100

Transporter

miRNA 20 AGAGUACCGACUAUGAGAGU 1

:::.::::.:::: ::.:::

Target 662 UCUUAUGGUUGAUUCUUUCA 681

vun-mir4351

TC5899

Expressed protein

Hypothetical protein

miRNA 22 GGUUGAGGUUGACUUGGGAUUG 1

::::::::::::::::::::::

Target 27 CCAACUCCAACUGAACCCUAAC 48

vun-mir4351

FF391835

NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase chain 2

Metabolism

miRNA 20 UUGAGGUUGACUUGGGAUUG 1

::: ::::.: ::::::::.

Target 22 AACCCCAAUUAAACCCUAAU 41

vun-mir4392

TC14606

AKIN beta1

Signal transduction

miRNA 22 AGGCUUUAGUGCAAGAGUGUCU 1

:: ::::::::: .:::.:::

Target 791 UGCUAAAUCACGUCUUCAUAGA 812

vun-mir4392

TC9038

SNF1-related protein kinase regulatory beta subunit 1

Signal transduction

miRNA 22 AGGCUUUAGUGCAAGAGUGUCU 1

:: ::::::::: .:::.:::

Target 979 UGCUAAAUCACGUCUUCAUAGA 1000

vun-mir4408

TC2049

Monooxygenase

Metabolism

miRNA 24 AGGAUAUGAGUAGGUUACAACAAC 1

:: :::.::::: :: :::::::

Target 369 UCAGAUAUUCAUCAAAAGUUGUUG 392

vun-mir4992

FG809835

TfIIE

Transcription factor

miRNA 22 GACUUUUUUUGGUAGAAUCUAC 1

::::::::::::::::::::::

Target 247 CUGAAAAAAACCAUCUUAGAUG 268

vun-mir4992

TC11468

Uncharacterized protein At2g03890.2

Hypothetical protein

miRNA 22 GACUUUUUUUGGUAGAAUCUAC 1

:::::::: :::::.:::::::

Target 836 CUGAAAAAUACCAUUUUAGAUG 857

vun-mir4992

TC414

Zinc finger protein 7

Transcription factor

miRNA 22 GACUUUUUUUGGUAGAAUCUAC 1

.:::.:.:::::::.::.:::

Target 739 UUGAGAGAAACCAUUUUGGAUC 760

vun-mir4992

TC2268

Zinc finger protein 4

Transcription factor

miRNA 22 GACUUUUUUUGGUAGAAUCUAC 1

.:::.:.:::::::.::.:::

Target 857 UUGAGAGAAACCAUUUUGGAUC 878

vun-mir5012

TC1335

Ribosomal protein L30

Structural protein

miRNA 21 CCUUGUGUGCCUCGUCGUUUU 1

::::.::. ::::::::::::

Target 209 GGAAUACGAGGAGCAGCAAAA 229

vun-mir5012

TC59

Acireductone dioxygenase

Metabolism

miRNA 21 CCUUGUGUGCC-UCGUCGUUUU 1

:::::::::: ::::::::::

Target 19 GGAACACACUGUAGCAGCAAAA 40

vun-mir5012

TC12731

Mn-specific cation diffusion facilitator transporter

Transporter

miRNA 20 CUUGUGUGCCUCGUCGUUUU 1

::.::::::::: :::::.

Target 186 GAGCACACGGAGAAGCAAGU 205

vun-mir5043

FF401363

Ran-specific GTPase-activating protein

Transcription factor

miRNA 21 CCACCACGUC-UCUUCCUCUUC 1

: :::::::: :::.:::::::

Target 444 GAUGGUGCAGGAGAGGGAGAAG 465

vun-mir5215

FG909052

Ferredoxin I precursor

Metabolism

miRNA 21 UUAGUUGAUCGAGUAGGAGGA 1

:::::::::::::::::::::

Target 179 AAUCAACUAGCUCAUCCUCCU 199

vun-mir5215

GH620837

L-lactate dehydrogenase

Metabolism

miRNA 20 UAGUUGAUCGAGUAGGAGGA 1

:::.:: :::::.:::::::

Target 491 AUCGACGAGCUCGUCCUCCU 510

vun-mir5215

TC8326

50S ribosomal protein L21

Structural protein

miRNA 21 UUAGUUGAUCGAGUAGGAGGA 1

:::.::.:.:::.::::::.:

Target 943 AAUUAAUUGGCUUAUCCUCUU 963

vun-mir5215

FG849457

Vancomycin resistance protein

Stress related

miRNA 20 UAGUUGAUCGAGUAGGAGGA 1

:::::: .:::::::::.:

Target 340 AUCAACAGGCUCAUCCUUCG 359

vun-mir5215

TC6816

General substrate transporter

Transporter

miRNA 21 UUAGUUGAUCGAGUAGGAGGA 1

::::::::.:::: :.:::::

Target 1035 AAUCAACUGGCUC-UUCUCCU 1054

vun-mir5216

FG851044

Metal ion binding

Transcription factor

miRNA 22 AAGGUGACAAAAAGUGAGGGUU 1

: .:::: :::::.:::.::::

Target 227 UAUCACUUUUUUUUACUUCCAA 248

vun-mir5216

FG841236

T5I8.13

Transcription factor

miRNA 22 AAGGUGACAAAAAGUGAGGGUU 1

:::::.: :: ::::.::::::

Target 132 UUCCAUUCUUCUUCAUUCCCAA 153

vun-mir5216

FG931306

Predicted protein

Hypothetical protein

miRNA 21 AGGUGACAAAAAGUGAGGGUU 1

:.:::::::: ::..:.::::

Target 2 UUCACUGUUUCUCGUUUCCAA 22

vun-mir5219

TC16320

Tumor-related protein

Growth and development

miRNA 20 GACGUCGACUCUAAGGUACU 1

::::: :::::.:: :::::

Target 141 CUGCACCUGAGGUUACAUGA 160

vun-mir5227

TC9947

TINY-like protein

Transcription factor

miRNA 22 AAGAAGUUAGAAGAAGACAAGA 1

::.::::: ::::::.::::::

Target 1075 UUUUUCAA-CUUCUUUUGUUCU 1095

vun-mir5227

FG842691

HMG1/2-like protein

Transcription factor

miRNA 20 GAAGUUAGAAGAAGACAAGA 1

:::::::.::.:::: ::.:

Target 27 CUUCAAUUUUUUUCUAUUUU 46

vun-mir5227

FG886406

Probable intracellular septation protein

Growth & development

miRNA 22 AAGAAGUUAGAAGAAGACAAGA 1

: .::::: :::.::.::::.:

Target 48 UGUUUCAACCUUUUUUUGUUUU 69

vun-mir5227

TC17852

Glutathione S-transferase PM24

Metabolism

miRNA 20 GAAGUUAGAAGAAGACAAGA 1

:::::::.:::: ::::::

Target 1044 CUUCAAUUUUCUCGUGUUCU 1063

vun-mir5227

TC10272

DNA-directed RNA polymerase subunit

Transcription factor

miRNA 20 GAAGUUAGAAGAAGACAAGA 1

:::::: ::.::.::::::

Target 288 CUUCAAGAUUUUUUUGUUCU 307

vun-mir5241

TC10790

VDAC-like porin

Transporter

miRNA 20 AAGUGAGAAGGUAAGUGGGU 1

::::::::::::::::..::

Target 201 UUCACUCUUCCAUUCAUUCA 220

vun-mir5241

TC18525

Peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase

Metabolism

miRNA 20 AAGUGAGAAGGUAAGUGGGU 1

:::..::::::.::::::.:

Target 58 UUCGUUCUUCCGUUCACCUA 77

vun-mir5241

FG863193

Probable plastid-lipid-associated protein 13

Stress related

miRNA 20 AAGUGAGAAGGUAAGUGGGU 1

::::.:: :.:::::::.::

Target 158 UUCAUUCAUUCAUUCACUCA 177

vun-mir5241

TC7362

Serine/threonine protein kinase

Signal transduction

miRNA 20 AAGUGAGAAGGUAAGUGGGU 1

::..::.:::.:::::..::

Target 934 UUUGCUUUUCUAUUCAUUCA 953

vun-mir5241

TC16629

Multidrug resistance protein

Disease related

miRNA 20 AAGUGAGAAGGUAAGUGGGU 1

:::::::::::: :: :.::

Target 915 UUCACUCUUCCAGUCUCUCA 934

vun-mir5241

TC2781

Non-specific lipid-transfer protein

Transporter

miRNA 20 AAGUGAGAAGGUAAGUGGGU 1

::::::::::: ::: :.::

Target 20 UUCACUCUUCCUUUCUCUCA 39

vun-mir5241

TC212

Chaperone GrpE type 2

Stress related

miRNA 20 AAGUGAGAAGGUAAGUGGGU 1

::::.::: .: ::::::::

Target 207 UUCAUUCUCUCCUUCACCCA 226

vun-mir5255

TC8912

Pyruvate kinase

Signal transduction

miRNA 20 AGUACAGGAGAUAGGACAGU 1

:.:::::.:::.::.:::.:

Target 71 UUAUGUCUUCUGUCUUGUUA 90

vun-mir5255

TC18327

Cysteine protease

Metabolism

miRNA 20 AGUACAGGAGAUAGGACAGU 1

::: :::::. ::.::::::

Target 605 UCAAGUCCUUGAUUCUGUCA 624

vun-mir5261

FG838847

Chromosome undetermined scaffold_221

Hypothetical protein

miRNA 21 UCGGUUUCGGUAGAUGUUAGC 1

:::::::::::::::::::::

Target 540 AGCCAAAGCCAUCUACAAUCG 560

vun-mir5261

FF398912

TIR

Stress related

miRNA 21 UCGGUUUCGGUAGAUGUUAGC 1

::::::::.::::::::::::

Target 413 AGCCAAAGUCAUCUACAAUCG 433

vun-mir5290

TC3168

Hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein

Disease related

miRNA 24 AUACACAGAAAGAGAGAGAUGAAA 1

:: : :::::::::.::::.:::

Target 82 UCUCUUUCUUUCUCUUUCUAUUUU 105

vun-mir5290

FG844083

PAS sensor protein

Signal transduction

miRNA 24 AUACACAGAAAGAGAGAGAUGAAA 1

:: : :::::::.:::.::.:::

Target 99 UUUCUCUCUUUCUUUCUUUAUUUU 122

vun-mir5290

FG871448

Eco57I restriction endonuclease

Metabolism

miRNA 20 ACAGAAAGAGAGAGAUGAAA 1

: ::::::::::::: ::::

Target 42 UCUCUUUCUCUCUCUCCUUU 61

vun-mir5290

TC11392

Ribonuclease III

Transcription factor

miRNA 24 AUACACAGAAAGAGAGAGAUGAAA 1

::: :: ::: ::::.:.::::::

Target 841 UAUAUGACUUCCUCUUUUUACUUU 864

vun-mir5290

TC12655

Calcium dependent protein kinase

Signal transduction

miRNA 20 ACAGAAAGAGAGAGAUGAAA 1

::::::.:.:::.:.::::

Target 1254 GGUCUUUUUUUCUUUGCUUU 1273

vun-mir5290

TC4908

ACC oxidase

Growth & development

miRNA 22 ACACAGAAAGAGAGAGAUGAAA 1

:: ::::::::::::::. ::

Target 1376 UCUCUCUUUCUCUCUCUAUCUU 1397

vun-mir5290

FG874464

RNA-binding protein

Transcription factor

miRNA 20 ACAGAAAGAGAGAGAUGAAA 1

: ::::::::::::: .:::

Target 14 UCUCUUUCUCUCUCUCUUUU 33

vun-mir5298

TC16082

Translation initiation factor IF

Transcription factor

miRNA 25 AAGAAGUAGAAG-UAGAACUUUAGGU 1

: .:::::::::: :::::::::::

Target 34 UCUUUCAUCUUCGAACUUGAAAUCCA 59

vun-mir5298

TC11481

Non-specific lipid-transfer protein

Transporter

miRNA 24 AGAAGUAGAAGUAGAACUUUAGGU 1

:.: ::: ::.:::::::.::..:

Target 614 UUUACAUGUUUAUCUUGAGAUUUA 637

vun-mir5298

TC16211

(Iso) Flavonoid glycosyltransferase

Metabolism

miRNA 25 AAGAAGUAGAAGUAGAACUUUAGGU 1

: :: .. :::: ::::::::::::

Target 233 UCCUCUGCCUUCUUCUUGAAAUCCA 257

vun-mir5376

TC18575

Zgc:158399 protein

Hypothetical protein

miRNA 23 AGAGUUUAAGAAGUGUUAGAGGU 1

:::::::::::::::::::::::

Target 517 UCUCAAAUUCUUCACAAUCUCCA 539

vun-mir5376

TC16446

Predicted protein

Hypothetical protein

miRNA 23 AGAGUUUAAGAAGUGUUAGAGGU 1

:::::::::::::: :::.: ::

Target 687 UCUCAAAUUCUUCAGAAUUUACA 709

vun-mir5376

FC457472

Chromosome chr1 scaffold_135

Hypothetical protein

miRNA 20 GUUUAAGAAGUGUUAGAGGU 1

.: ::::::::::::::.:

Target 141 AGAUUUCUUCACAAUCUCUA 160

vun-mir5561

TC1062

H+/Ca2+ exchanger 2

Transporter

miRNA 20 UGUAAAUCUCUCUCUCUCUA 1

: :::::::::::::::::

Target 8 AGAUUUAGAGAGAGAGAGAG 27

vun-mir5561

TC8162

GTPase

Metabolism

miRNA 20 UGUAAAUCUCUCUCUCUCUA 1

:..: ::::::::::::::

Target 102 AUGUAUAGAGAGAGAGAGAG 121

vun-mir5561

TC11798

Cold shock domain

Stress related

miRNA 20 UGUAAAUCUCUCUCUCUCUA 1

:::: : ::::::::::::

Target 2 ACAGUGACAGAGAGAGAGAU 21

vun-mir5758

TC975

Chromosome chr11 scaffold_13

Hypothetical protein

miRNA 21 GUUUAUGUAUCUAGGUUGAAU 1

:::::::::::::::::::::

Target 213 CAAAUACAUAGAUCCAACUUA 233

vun-mir5758

TC5742

Pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructo-1-kinase

Signal transduction

miRNA 21 GUUUAUGUAUCUAGGUUGAAU 1

.:::::.::::::::::: ::

Target 306 UAAAUAUAUAGAUCCAACCUA 326

vun-mir5758

TC16939

Chromosome undetermined scaffold_310

Hypothetical protein

miRNA 20 UUUAUGUAUCUAGGUUGAAU 1

:::::::: :::::::: ::

Target 509 AAAUACAUUGAUCCAACGUA 528

vun-mir5770

TC1925

Amine oxidase

Metabolism

miRNA 21 AGUAGGUUUGGUAUCAGGAUU 1

:::::::::::::::::::::

Target 165 UCAUCCAAACCAUAGUCCUAA 185

vun-mir5770

TC5168

Copper amine oxidase

Metabolism

miRNA 21 AGUAGGUUUGGUAUCAGGAUU 1

:..::::::::::::::: ::

Target 148 UUGUCCAAACCAUAGUCCAAA 168

vun-mir5770

TC18480

Ribonuclease H

Transcription factor

miRNA 20 GUAGGUUUGGUAUCAGGAUU 1

:::.:::.:.:::::..:::

Target 613 CAUUCAAGCUAUAGUUUUAA 632

vun-mir5770

TC1738

Allyl alcohol dehydrogenase

Metabolism

miRNA 20 GUAGGUUUGGUAUCAGGAUU 1

::::.::::. ::::.::.:

Target 766 CAUCUAAACUUUAGUUCUGA 785

vun-mir6252

FG841373

Nucleoporin-like protein

Transcription factor

miRNA 23 UUGGGAGAGAGUUGUGUUGAGUA 1

:::::::::::::::::::::::

Target 24 AACCCUCUCUCAACACAACUCAU 46

vun-mir6252

FG857360

Membrane protein

Transporters

miRNA 21 GGGAGAGAGUUGUGUUGAGUA 1

.::::::::::::: :::::

Target 247 UCCUCUCUCAACACUCCUCAU 267

vun-mir6252

TC15301

Homeobox domain, ZF-HD class

Transcription factor

miRNA 23 UUGGGAGAGAGUUGUGUUGAGUA 1

:: :::::::::: :::::::

Target 9 AUCACUCUCUCAACUCAACUCAA 31

vun-mir7696

FG864277

BZIP transcription

Transcription factor

miRNA 20 AAAACUUAAAUUCAUGAACA 1

::::::::::::::::::::

Target 17 UUUUGAAUUUAAGUACUUGU 36

vun-mir7696

FF383199

Olfactory receptor

Signal transduction

miRNA 20 AAAACUUAAAUUCAUGAACA 1

::::: ::::::::::::

Target 141 UUUUUAUUUUAAGUACUUGG 160

vun-mir8182

TC3507

Pectin methylesterase

Metabolism

miRNA 21 CAGUAGUGUUUGCGUUGUGUU 1

::::::::::..:::::: :.

Target 654 GUCAUCACAAGUGCAACAGAG 674

vun-mir9748

TC16306

Lectin-like protein kinase

Signal transduction

miRNA 22 GAGGAGGGAGUUGUGAAGGAAG 1

: .:::..:::::::::::::.

Target 17 CGUCUCUUUCAACACUUCCUUU 38

vun-mir9748

TC1064

Zinc finger, RING-type: Thioredoxin-related

Transcription factor

miRNA 22 GAGGAGGGAGUUGUGAAGGAAG 1

.:::::.:::::: .::.::::

Target 16 UUCCUCUCUCAACUUUUUCUUC 37

vun-mir9748

TC9843

Beta-xylosidase/alpha-L-arabinosidase

Metabolism

miRNA 20 GGAGGGAGUUGUGAAGGAAG 1

:.::..:::::::::::::

Target 478 CUUCUUUCAACACUUCCUUG 497

vun-mir9748

TC15743

Heat shock protein

Stress related

miRNA 22 GAGGAGGGAGUUGUGAAGGAAG 1

:::.:::::::::.:: .::::

Target 244 CUCUUCCCUCAACGCUCUCUUC 265

vun-mir9748

TC15591

Transcription factor AHAP2

Transcription factor

miRNA 22 GAGGAGGGAGUUGUGAAGGAAG 1

.::.:::::::: :::::: ::

Target 64 UUCUUCCCUCAAGACUUCCAUC 85

vun-mir9748

TC298

Glutathione reductase

Metabolism

miRNA 20 GGAGGGAGUUGUGAAGGAAG 1

.:::.::::::::: .::::

Target 95 UCUCUCUCAACACUCUCUUC 114

vun-mir9748

TC1040

Glycine-rich protein 2b

Transcription factor

miRNA 20 GGAGGGAGUUGUGAAGGAAG 1

::.:::: .::::::::::

Target 567 ACUUCCUCUGCACUUCCUUC 586

Zoom Image
Fig. 11 (A) Cowpea miRNA's conservation studies. Alignment of V. unguiculata (vun) miRNA (vun-mir398) with G. max (gma), N. tabacum (nta) and C. melo (cme) was generated using Web logo: a sequence logo generator, showing conserved nature mature miRNA sequences. The mature sequences highlighted in a rectangle red box. (B) Cowpea miRNA's phylogenetic analysis. V. unguiculata (vun) miRNA (vun-mir398) with G. max (gma), N. tabacum (nta) and C. melo (cme) was done with the help of ClustalW and cladogram tree was generated using neighbor joining clustering method. The phylogenetic tree showed that the V. unguiculata (vun) is more closed to G. max (gma) than N. tabacum (nta) and C. melo (cme). The closed plant species highlighted in a rectangle red box.

The transcription factor myeloblastosis (MYB) is an important regulator of many developmental and physiological processes in plants. Ballester et al.,[53] suggested that the MYB also plays a significant role in regulating the flavonoid pathway in plants. The newly identified cowpea miRNA family vun-834 is found to target the MYB transcription factors. Thus this miRNA is an important resource to fine tune the MYB regulation for the desirable traits in cowpea fruit. The transcription factor, zinc finger is believed to be involved in many biotic and abiotic stresses as responding gene to manage the plant under these stresses.[54] The same family of transcription factor is also reported to play a crucial role in plant development.[55] The newly identified cowpea miRNA families vun-miR834 and 4992 are found to target this zinc finger transcription factor family. These miRNAs are important resources to regulate the zinc finger family proteins for the betterment of cowpea under various biotic and abiotic stresses and fruit development.

Similarly 12% targeted genes by cowpea miRNAs are engaged in transport activities. ATP-binding cassette transporters comprise a highly conserved family of ATP-binding proteins that are involved in transporting of various molecules across plasma membrane. Here vun-miR1514 is identified to target ATP-binding cassette transporters. Such findings are in agreement with the other workers in the miRNA field.[37] [43]

Biotic and abiotic stresses like salinity, drought, temperature extremities, heavy metals, pathogen attacks, and pollution cause huge yield reductions in plants.[56] Naturally plants have various systems to protect themselves from these stresses that occur at various levels, i.e., at whole plant, tissue, cellular, sub-cellular, genetic and molecular levels.[56] [57] [58] [59] [60]. Many studies suggest that plant miRNAs are involved in these stresses.[9] [17] [61] In this study identified miRNAs such as vun-miR1525, 2657 and 9748 also targeted heat shock proteins that expressed in response of heat stress. This suggests the role of these miRNAs during the heat stressed condition of plants. Similar findings were reported in switch grass.[17]

Some miRNAs of cowpea were observed to target the protein functioning in the process of cell signal transduction. Almost similar findings were observed by many researchers in various organisms.[42] [43] Protein kinases are key regulators of cell function and play crucial role in protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation that are major signaling pathways induced by osmotic stress in higher plants. Similarly, SNF1 (sucrose non-fermenting-1) is an osmotic-stress-activated protein kinase in Arabidopsis thaliana that can significantly impact drought tolerance of Arabidopsis thaliana plants.[62] These two important proteins were targeted by cowpea miRNAs families, like vun-miR435, 2606, 2609 and 4392 respectively. Serine/threonine protein kinase (STPKs) is another protein kinase that is targeted by miRNA family (miR5241), act as sensors of environmental signals and regulate different developmental changes and also host pathogen interactions.[63]

In this study, newly profiled cowpea miRNAs were also observed to target hypothetical proteins, growth and development, structural proteins and disease related proteins. Such findings were also published earlier.[19] [21] [37]


#
#

Conclusion

The current study is resulted 46 new miRNAs and their 138 targeted genes in an important commercial plant cowpea. All these miRNAs are profiled for the first time in cowpea. These findings will serve as resources to fine tune cowpea plant at micro-molecular level. This will help us to enhance the production ability of cowpea against biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. Furthermore these miRNAs and their targets are also powerful functional genomic resources in the Kingdom plantae.


#
#

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this article.

  • References

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  • 2 Kim YJ, Zheng B, Yu Y. et al. The role of mediator in small and long noncoding RNA production in Arabidopsis thaliana . EMBO J 2011; 30: 814-822
  • 3 Zhang BH, Pan XP, Wang QL. et al. Identification and characterization of new plant microRNAs using EST analysis. Cell Res 2005; 15: 336-360
  • 4 Hammond SC, Bernstein E, Beach D. et al. An RNA-directed nuclease mediates posttranscriptional gene silencing in Drosophila cells. Nature 2000; 404: 293-296
  • 5 Kidner CA, Martienssen RA. The developmental role of microRNA in plants. Curr Opin Plant Biol 2005; 8: 38-44
  • 6 Baloch IA, Barozai MYK, Din M. MicroRNAs: the mega regulators in eukaryotic genomes. Pure Appl Biol 2013; 2: 83-88
  • 7 Bai M, Yang GS, Chen WT. et al. Genome-wide identification of Dicer-like, Argonaute and RNA dependent RNA polymerase gene families and their expression analyses in response to viral infection and abiotic stresses in Solanum lycopersicum . Gene 2012; 501: 52-62
  • 8 Barozai MYK. Insilico identification of microRNAs and their targets in fiber and oil producing plant Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.). Pak J Bot 2012; 44: 1357-1362
  • 9 Gao P, Bai X, Yang L. et al. Osa-MIR393: a salinity- and alkaline stress-related microRNA gene. Mol Biol Rep 2011; 38: 237-242
  • 10 Shui XR, Chen ZW, Li JX. MicroRNA prediction and its function in regulating drought-related genes in cowpea. Plant Sci 2013; 210: 25-35
  • 11 Xie FL, Huang SQ, Guo K. et al. Computational identification of novel microRNAs and targets in Brassica napus . FEBS Lett 2007; 581: 1464-1474
  • 12 Zhang BH, Pan XP, Stellwag EJ. Identification of soybean microRNAs and their targets. Planta 2008; 229: 161-182
  • 13 Barozai MYK, Irfan M, Yousaf R. et al. Identification of micro-RNAs in cotton. Plant Physiol Biochem 2008; 46: 739-751
  • 14 Zhang BH, Wang QL, Wang KB. et al. Identification of cotton microRNAs and their targets. Gene 2007; 397: 26-37
  • 15 Zhang B, Pan X, Cannon CH. et al. Conservation and divergence of plant microRNA genes. Plant J 2006; 46: 243-259
  • 16 Frazier TP, Xie F, Freistaedter A. et al. Identification and characterization of microRNAs and their target genes in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). Planta 2010; 232: 1289-1308
  • 17 Xie F, Frazier T, Zhang B. Identification and characterization of microRNAs and their targets in the bioenergy plant switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). Planta 2010; 232: 417-434
  • 18 Barozai MYK, Din M, Baloch IA. Structural and functional based identification of the bean (Phaseolus) microRNAs and their targets from Expressed Sequence Tags. J Struct Funct Genomics 2013; 14: 11-18
  • 19 Din M, Barozai MYK. Profiling microRNAs and their targets in an important fleshy fruit: Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Gene 2014; 535: 198-203
  • 20 Din M, Barozai MYK. Profiling and characterization of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) microRNAs and their targets. Mol Biol Rep 2014; 41: 889-894
  • 21 Din M, Barozai MYK, Baloch IA. Profiling and annotation of microRNAs and their putative target genes in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) using ESTs. Gene Rep 2016; 5: 62-69
  • 22 Muchero W, Diop NN, Bhatetal PR. A consensus genetic map of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) and synteny based on EST-derived SNPs. Proc Natl Acad Sci U.S.A 2009; 106: 18159-18164
  • 23 Pule-Meulenberg F, Belane AK, Krasova-Wade T. et al. Symbiotic functioning and bradyrhizobial biodiversity of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) in Africa. BMC Microbiol 2010; 10: 89
  • 24 Griffiths-Jones S. The microRNA registry. Nucleic Acids Res 2004; 32D: 109-111
  • 25 Altschul SF, Gish W, Miller W. et al. Basic local alignment search tool. J Mol Biol 1990; 215: 403-410
  • 26 Altschul SF, Madden TL, SchÞffer AA. et al. Gapped BLAST and PSI-BLAST: a new generation of protein database search programs. Nucleic Acids Res 1997; 25: 3389-3402
  • 27 Zuker M. Mfold web server for nucleic acid folding and hybridization prediction. Nucleic Acids Res 2003; 31: 3406-3415
  • 28 Barozai MYK. Identification and characterization of the microRNAs and their targets in Salmo salar . Gene 2012; 499: 163-168
  • 29 Ambros V, Bartel B, Bartel DP. et al. A uniform system for microRNA annotation. RNA 2003; 9: 277-279
  • 30 Dai X, Zhao PX. psRNATarget: a plant small RNA target analysis server. Nucleic Acids Res 2011; 39: 155-159
  • 31 Barozai MYK. The microRNAs and their targets in the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Mol Biol Rep 2012; 39: 8867-8872
  • 32 Kruger J, Rehmsmeier M. RNAhybrid: microRNA target prediction easy, fast and flexible. Nucl Acids Res 2006; 34: 451-454
  • 33 Barozai MYK, Husnain T. Identification of biotic and abiotic stress up-regulated ESTs in Gossypium arboreum . Mol Biol Rep 2011; 39: 1011-1018
  • 34 Barozai MYK, Wahid AH. In silico identification and characterization of cumulative abiotic stress responding genes in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Pak J Bot 2012; 44: 57-69
  • 35 Barozai MYK, Kakar AG, Din M. The relationship between codon usage bias and salt resistant genes in Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa . Pure Appl Biol 2012; 1: 48-51
  • 36 Barozai MYK, Kakar S, Sarangzai AM. Profiling the carrot (Daucus carota L.) microRNAs and their targets. Pak J Bot 2013; 45: 353-358
  • 37 Wang J, Yang X, Xu H. et al. Identification and characterization of microRNAs and their target genes in Brassica oleracea . Gene 2012; 505: 300-308
  • 38 Barozai MYK. Identification of microRNAs and their targets in Artemisia annua L. Pak J Bot 2013; 45: 461-465
  • 39 Ghani A, Din M, Baloch IA. et al. Identification of MicroRNA in 12 plant species of fabaceae. Pure Appl Bio 2013; 2: 104-115
  • 40 Orlov YL, Dobrovolskaya O, Yuan CH. et al. Integrative computer analysis of antisense transcripts and miRNA targets in plant genomes. J Stress Physiol Biochem 2012; 8: S7
  • 41 Barozai MYK. The novel 172 sheep (Ovis aries) microRNAs and their targets. Mol Biol Rep 2012; 39: 6259-6266
  • 42 Chen L, Ren YY, Zhang YY. et al. Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of heat-responsive and novel microRNAs in Populus tomentosa . Gene 2012; 504: 160-165
  • 43 Ji Z, Wang G, Xie Z. et al. Identification and characterization of microRNA in the dairy goat (Capra hircus) mammary gland by Solexa deep sequencing technology. Mol Biol Rep 2012; 39: 9361-9371
  • 44 Barozai MYK. The microRNAs and their targets in the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Mol Biol Rep 2012; 39: 8867-8872
  • 45 Yu J, Wang F, Yang GH. et al. Human microRNA clusters: genomic organization and expression profile in leukemia cell lines. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2006; 349: 59-68
  • 46 Jones-Rhoades MW, Bartel DP. Computational identification of plant microRNAs and their targets, including a stress induced miRNA. Mol Cell 2004; 14: 787-799
  • 47 Crooks GE, Hon G, Chandonia JM. et al. Web-Logo: a sequence logo generator. Genome Res 2004; 14: 1188-1190
  • 48 Larkin MA, Blackshields G, Brown NP. et al. ClustalW and ClustalX version 2. Bioinform 2007; 23: 2947-2948
  • 49 Zeng CY, Wang WQ, Zheng Y. et al. Conservation and divergence of microRNAs and their functions in Euphorbiaceous plants. Nucleic Acids Res 2009; 38: 981-995
  • 50 Bartel DP. MicroRNAs: target recognition and regulatory functions. Cell 2009; 136: 215-233
  • 51 Kohli P, Kalia M, Gupta R. Pectin Methylesterases: A Review. J Bioprocess Biotech 2015; 5: 228
  • 52 Whitney SM, Andrews TJ. The gene for the ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) small subunit relocated to the plastid genome of tobacco directs the synthesis of small subunits that assemble into Rubisco. Plant Cell 2001; 13: 193-205
  • 53 Ballester AR, Molthoff J, de Vos R. et al. Biochemical and molecular analysis of pink tomatoes: deregulated expression of the gene encoding transcription factor SlMYB12 leads to pink tomato fruit color. Plant Physiol 2010; 152: 71-84
  • 54 Kodaira KS, Qin F, Tran LS. et al. Arabidopsis Cys2/His2 zinc-finger proteins AZF1 and AZF2 negatively regulate abscisic acid-repressive and auxin-inducible genes under abiotic stress conditions. Plant Physiol 2011; 157: 742-756
  • 55 Soria-Guerra RE, Rosales-Mendoza S, Gasic K. et al. Gene expression is highly regulated in early developing fruit of apple. Plant Mol Biol Rep 2011; 29: 885-897
  • 56 Yadav SK. Cold stress tolerance mechanisms in plants. A review. Agron Sustain Dev 2010; 30: 515-527
  • 57 Prasad PVV, Staggenborg SA. Impacts of drought and/or heat stress on physiological, developmental, growth, and yield processes of crop plants. Ristic Z. Response of Crops to Limited Water. Madison, WI, USA: 2008: 301-355
  • 58 Qados AMSA. Effect of salt stress on plant growth and metabolism of bean plant Viciafaba (L.). J Saudi Soc Agric Sci 2011; 10: 7-15
  • 59 Rejeb IB, Pastor V, Mauch-Mani B. Plant Responses to Simultaneous Biotic and Abiotic Stress: Molecular Mechanisms. Plants 2014; 3: 458-475
  • 60 Sheshadri SA, Nishanth MJ, Simon B. Stress-mediated cis-element transcription factor interactions interconnecting primary and specialized metabolism in planta. Front Plant Sci 2016; 7: 1725
  • 61 Fluhr R. Sentinels of disease. Plant resistance genes. Plant Physiol 2001; 127: 1367-1374
  • 62 Umezawa T, Yoshida R, Maruyama K. et al. SRK2C, a SNF1-related protein kinase 2, improves drought tolerance by controlling stress-responsive gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana . Proc Natl Acad Sci U.S.A 2004; 101: 17306-17311
  • 63 Narayan A, Sachdeva P, Sharma K. et al. Serine threonine protein kinases of mycobacterial genus: phylogeny to function. Physiol genomics 2007; 29: 66-75

Address for correspondence


Publication History

Received: 20 April 2017

Accepted: 15 June 2017

Article published online:
10 May 2021

© 2017. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

  • References

  • 1 Bartel DP. MicroRNAs: genomics, biogenesis, mechanism, and function. Cell 2004; 116: 281-297
  • 2 Kim YJ, Zheng B, Yu Y. et al. The role of mediator in small and long noncoding RNA production in Arabidopsis thaliana . EMBO J 2011; 30: 814-822
  • 3 Zhang BH, Pan XP, Wang QL. et al. Identification and characterization of new plant microRNAs using EST analysis. Cell Res 2005; 15: 336-360
  • 4 Hammond SC, Bernstein E, Beach D. et al. An RNA-directed nuclease mediates posttranscriptional gene silencing in Drosophila cells. Nature 2000; 404: 293-296
  • 5 Kidner CA, Martienssen RA. The developmental role of microRNA in plants. Curr Opin Plant Biol 2005; 8: 38-44
  • 6 Baloch IA, Barozai MYK, Din M. MicroRNAs: the mega regulators in eukaryotic genomes. Pure Appl Biol 2013; 2: 83-88
  • 7 Bai M, Yang GS, Chen WT. et al. Genome-wide identification of Dicer-like, Argonaute and RNA dependent RNA polymerase gene families and their expression analyses in response to viral infection and abiotic stresses in Solanum lycopersicum . Gene 2012; 501: 52-62
  • 8 Barozai MYK. Insilico identification of microRNAs and their targets in fiber and oil producing plant Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.). Pak J Bot 2012; 44: 1357-1362
  • 9 Gao P, Bai X, Yang L. et al. Osa-MIR393: a salinity- and alkaline stress-related microRNA gene. Mol Biol Rep 2011; 38: 237-242
  • 10 Shui XR, Chen ZW, Li JX. MicroRNA prediction and its function in regulating drought-related genes in cowpea. Plant Sci 2013; 210: 25-35
  • 11 Xie FL, Huang SQ, Guo K. et al. Computational identification of novel microRNAs and targets in Brassica napus . FEBS Lett 2007; 581: 1464-1474
  • 12 Zhang BH, Pan XP, Stellwag EJ. Identification of soybean microRNAs and their targets. Planta 2008; 229: 161-182
  • 13 Barozai MYK, Irfan M, Yousaf R. et al. Identification of micro-RNAs in cotton. Plant Physiol Biochem 2008; 46: 739-751
  • 14 Zhang BH, Wang QL, Wang KB. et al. Identification of cotton microRNAs and their targets. Gene 2007; 397: 26-37
  • 15 Zhang B, Pan X, Cannon CH. et al. Conservation and divergence of plant microRNA genes. Plant J 2006; 46: 243-259
  • 16 Frazier TP, Xie F, Freistaedter A. et al. Identification and characterization of microRNAs and their target genes in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). Planta 2010; 232: 1289-1308
  • 17 Xie F, Frazier T, Zhang B. Identification and characterization of microRNAs and their targets in the bioenergy plant switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). Planta 2010; 232: 417-434
  • 18 Barozai MYK, Din M, Baloch IA. Structural and functional based identification of the bean (Phaseolus) microRNAs and their targets from Expressed Sequence Tags. J Struct Funct Genomics 2013; 14: 11-18
  • 19 Din M, Barozai MYK. Profiling microRNAs and their targets in an important fleshy fruit: Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Gene 2014; 535: 198-203
  • 20 Din M, Barozai MYK. Profiling and characterization of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) microRNAs and their targets. Mol Biol Rep 2014; 41: 889-894
  • 21 Din M, Barozai MYK, Baloch IA. Profiling and annotation of microRNAs and their putative target genes in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) using ESTs. Gene Rep 2016; 5: 62-69
  • 22 Muchero W, Diop NN, Bhatetal PR. A consensus genetic map of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) and synteny based on EST-derived SNPs. Proc Natl Acad Sci U.S.A 2009; 106: 18159-18164
  • 23 Pule-Meulenberg F, Belane AK, Krasova-Wade T. et al. Symbiotic functioning and bradyrhizobial biodiversity of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) in Africa. BMC Microbiol 2010; 10: 89
  • 24 Griffiths-Jones S. The microRNA registry. Nucleic Acids Res 2004; 32D: 109-111
  • 25 Altschul SF, Gish W, Miller W. et al. Basic local alignment search tool. J Mol Biol 1990; 215: 403-410
  • 26 Altschul SF, Madden TL, SchÞffer AA. et al. Gapped BLAST and PSI-BLAST: a new generation of protein database search programs. Nucleic Acids Res 1997; 25: 3389-3402
  • 27 Zuker M. Mfold web server for nucleic acid folding and hybridization prediction. Nucleic Acids Res 2003; 31: 3406-3415
  • 28 Barozai MYK. Identification and characterization of the microRNAs and their targets in Salmo salar . Gene 2012; 499: 163-168
  • 29 Ambros V, Bartel B, Bartel DP. et al. A uniform system for microRNA annotation. RNA 2003; 9: 277-279
  • 30 Dai X, Zhao PX. psRNATarget: a plant small RNA target analysis server. Nucleic Acids Res 2011; 39: 155-159
  • 31 Barozai MYK. The microRNAs and their targets in the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Mol Biol Rep 2012; 39: 8867-8872
  • 32 Kruger J, Rehmsmeier M. RNAhybrid: microRNA target prediction easy, fast and flexible. Nucl Acids Res 2006; 34: 451-454
  • 33 Barozai MYK, Husnain T. Identification of biotic and abiotic stress up-regulated ESTs in Gossypium arboreum . Mol Biol Rep 2011; 39: 1011-1018
  • 34 Barozai MYK, Wahid AH. In silico identification and characterization of cumulative abiotic stress responding genes in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Pak J Bot 2012; 44: 57-69
  • 35 Barozai MYK, Kakar AG, Din M. The relationship between codon usage bias and salt resistant genes in Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa . Pure Appl Biol 2012; 1: 48-51
  • 36 Barozai MYK, Kakar S, Sarangzai AM. Profiling the carrot (Daucus carota L.) microRNAs and their targets. Pak J Bot 2013; 45: 353-358
  • 37 Wang J, Yang X, Xu H. et al. Identification and characterization of microRNAs and their target genes in Brassica oleracea . Gene 2012; 505: 300-308
  • 38 Barozai MYK. Identification of microRNAs and their targets in Artemisia annua L. Pak J Bot 2013; 45: 461-465
  • 39 Ghani A, Din M, Baloch IA. et al. Identification of MicroRNA in 12 plant species of fabaceae. Pure Appl Bio 2013; 2: 104-115
  • 40 Orlov YL, Dobrovolskaya O, Yuan CH. et al. Integrative computer analysis of antisense transcripts and miRNA targets in plant genomes. J Stress Physiol Biochem 2012; 8: S7
  • 41 Barozai MYK. The novel 172 sheep (Ovis aries) microRNAs and their targets. Mol Biol Rep 2012; 39: 6259-6266
  • 42 Chen L, Ren YY, Zhang YY. et al. Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of heat-responsive and novel microRNAs in Populus tomentosa . Gene 2012; 504: 160-165
  • 43 Ji Z, Wang G, Xie Z. et al. Identification and characterization of microRNA in the dairy goat (Capra hircus) mammary gland by Solexa deep sequencing technology. Mol Biol Rep 2012; 39: 9361-9371
  • 44 Barozai MYK. The microRNAs and their targets in the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Mol Biol Rep 2012; 39: 8867-8872
  • 45 Yu J, Wang F, Yang GH. et al. Human microRNA clusters: genomic organization and expression profile in leukemia cell lines. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2006; 349: 59-68
  • 46 Jones-Rhoades MW, Bartel DP. Computational identification of plant microRNAs and their targets, including a stress induced miRNA. Mol Cell 2004; 14: 787-799
  • 47 Crooks GE, Hon G, Chandonia JM. et al. Web-Logo: a sequence logo generator. Genome Res 2004; 14: 1188-1190
  • 48 Larkin MA, Blackshields G, Brown NP. et al. ClustalW and ClustalX version 2. Bioinform 2007; 23: 2947-2948
  • 49 Zeng CY, Wang WQ, Zheng Y. et al. Conservation and divergence of microRNAs and their functions in Euphorbiaceous plants. Nucleic Acids Res 2009; 38: 981-995
  • 50 Bartel DP. MicroRNAs: target recognition and regulatory functions. Cell 2009; 136: 215-233
  • 51 Kohli P, Kalia M, Gupta R. Pectin Methylesterases: A Review. J Bioprocess Biotech 2015; 5: 228
  • 52 Whitney SM, Andrews TJ. The gene for the ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) small subunit relocated to the plastid genome of tobacco directs the synthesis of small subunits that assemble into Rubisco. Plant Cell 2001; 13: 193-205
  • 53 Ballester AR, Molthoff J, de Vos R. et al. Biochemical and molecular analysis of pink tomatoes: deregulated expression of the gene encoding transcription factor SlMYB12 leads to pink tomato fruit color. Plant Physiol 2010; 152: 71-84
  • 54 Kodaira KS, Qin F, Tran LS. et al. Arabidopsis Cys2/His2 zinc-finger proteins AZF1 and AZF2 negatively regulate abscisic acid-repressive and auxin-inducible genes under abiotic stress conditions. Plant Physiol 2011; 157: 742-756
  • 55 Soria-Guerra RE, Rosales-Mendoza S, Gasic K. et al. Gene expression is highly regulated in early developing fruit of apple. Plant Mol Biol Rep 2011; 29: 885-897
  • 56 Yadav SK. Cold stress tolerance mechanisms in plants. A review. Agron Sustain Dev 2010; 30: 515-527
  • 57 Prasad PVV, Staggenborg SA. Impacts of drought and/or heat stress on physiological, developmental, growth, and yield processes of crop plants. Ristic Z. Response of Crops to Limited Water. Madison, WI, USA: 2008: 301-355
  • 58 Qados AMSA. Effect of salt stress on plant growth and metabolism of bean plant Viciafaba (L.). J Saudi Soc Agric Sci 2011; 10: 7-15
  • 59 Rejeb IB, Pastor V, Mauch-Mani B. Plant Responses to Simultaneous Biotic and Abiotic Stress: Molecular Mechanisms. Plants 2014; 3: 458-475
  • 60 Sheshadri SA, Nishanth MJ, Simon B. Stress-mediated cis-element transcription factor interactions interconnecting primary and specialized metabolism in planta. Front Plant Sci 2016; 7: 1725
  • 61 Fluhr R. Sentinels of disease. Plant resistance genes. Plant Physiol 2001; 127: 1367-1374
  • 62 Umezawa T, Yoshida R, Maruyama K. et al. SRK2C, a SNF1-related protein kinase 2, improves drought tolerance by controlling stress-responsive gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana . Proc Natl Acad Sci U.S.A 2004; 101: 17306-17311
  • 63 Narayan A, Sachdeva P, Sharma K. et al. Serine threonine protein kinases of mycobacterial genus: phylogeny to function. Physiol genomics 2007; 29: 66-75

Zoom Image
Fig. 1 Distribution of the newly identified cowpea pre-miRNAs on the basis of their length.
Zoom Image
Fig. 2 Distribution and classification of newly identified cowpea miRNAs on the basis of their minimum free energies (MFEs).
Zoom Image
Fig. 3 Distribution of the cowpea miRNAs mismatches (nt) with their reference miRNAs.
Zoom Image
Fig. 4 Distribution of the cowpea mature miRNAs for their length.
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Fig. 5 (A) The newly identified cowpea miRNAs' secondary structures. Cowpea pre-miRNAs secondary structures were developed through Mfold algorithm. These structures clearly showing the mature miRNAs in stem portion of the stem-loop structures. (B) Cowpea pre-miRNA cluster. Cowpea miRNA (vun-miR4414) was found as a pre-miRNA cluster with two mature miRNAs (miR4414a and miR4414b). The pre-miRNA cluster secondary structure was created by Mfold (version 3.6), showing mature sequences in green within the same pre-miRNA sequence.
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Fig. 6 Distribution of mature miRNAs location on the either arms of hair-pen structures and numbers (frequency%) of miRNAs occurring.
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Fig. 7 Percentage distribution of GC content and numbers (frequency%) of miRNAs occurring.
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Fig. 8 Percentage distribution of strand orientation and numbers (frequency%) of miRNAs occurring.
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Fig. 9 Percentage distribution of organ expression and numbers (frequency%) of miRNAs occurring.
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Fig. 10 Percentage distribution of base pairing between the mature miRNA and the opposite arms (miRNAs*) in the stem region and numbers (frequency%) of miRNAs occurring.
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Fig. 11 (A) Cowpea miRNA's conservation studies. Alignment of V. unguiculata (vun) miRNA (vun-mir398) with G. max (gma), N. tabacum (nta) and C. melo (cme) was generated using Web logo: a sequence logo generator, showing conserved nature mature miRNA sequences. The mature sequences highlighted in a rectangle red box. (B) Cowpea miRNA's phylogenetic analysis. V. unguiculata (vun) miRNA (vun-mir398) with G. max (gma), N. tabacum (nta) and C. melo (cme) was done with the help of ClustalW and cladogram tree was generated using neighbor joining clustering method. The phylogenetic tree showed that the V. unguiculata (vun) is more closed to G. max (gma) than N. tabacum (nta) and C. melo (cme). The closed plant species highlighted in a rectangle red box.