MicroRNA from Moringa oleifera: Identification by High Throughput Sequencing and Their Potential Contribution to Plant Medicinal Value

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149495
• Publication Date: 2016-03-01T18:50:12Z
• Authors: Stefano Pirrò; Letizia Zanella; Maurice Kenzo; Carla Montesano; Antonella Minutolo; Marina Potestà; Martin Sanou Sobze; Antonella Canini; Marco Cirilli; Rosario Muleo; Vittorio Colizzi; Andrea Galgani
• Keywords: Moringa

Moringa oleifera is a widespread plant with substantial nutritional and medicinal value. We postulated that microRNAs (miRNAs), which are endogenous, noncoding small RNAs regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, might contribute to properties of plants this species after ingestion into human body, expression. However, knowledge scarce about miRNA in Moringa. Furthermore, order test hypothesis on pharmacological potential miRNA, we conducted high-throughput sequencing analysis using Illumina platform. A total 31,290,964 raw reads were produced from library RNA isolated M. seeds. identified 94 conserved two novel miRNAs validated by qRT-PCR assays. Results trials 20 showed across multiple as determined their detection tissue other common crop plants. In silico analyses predicted target genes for turn allowed relate regulation physiological processes. Some have functional homology mammalian counterparts regulated when they transfected cell lines. To our knowledge, first report discovering based bioinformatics provided new insight cross-species control The cultivation consumption oleifera, purposes, brings humans close contact products extracts species. transfer should be evaluated one possible mechanism action account beneficial valuable