{"title":"Plant microRNA maturation and function","authors":"Yu Yu, Han Wang, Chenjiang You, Xuemei Chen","doi":"10.1038/s41580-025-00871-y","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>Since their discovery in 2002, much has been learnt about plant microRNAs (miRNAs), including the genes that encode them and the target genes that they regulate; the microprocessor complex that produces the miRNAs and the effector ARGONAUTE (AGO) proteins with which miRNAs associate; the mechanisms of target-RNA recognition by miRNAs and miRNA modes of action; miRNA subcellular localization; and miRNA mobility between cells and within plants. In this Review, we discuss new mechanistic insights into miRNA maturation and AGO loading, the subcellular locations of miRNA processing and activity and partitioning of miRNAs between the nucleus and cytoplasm, which in turn affects their intercellular mobility. We also discuss intriguing connections between miRNAs and the translation process and present hypotheses to be tested by future studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":19051,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology","volume":"276 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":81.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology","FirstCategoryId":"99","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41580-025-00871-y","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"CELL BIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Since their discovery in 2002, much has been learnt about plant microRNAs (miRNAs), including the genes that encode them and the target genes that they regulate; the microprocessor complex that produces the miRNAs and the effector ARGONAUTE (AGO) proteins with which miRNAs associate; the mechanisms of target-RNA recognition by miRNAs and miRNA modes of action; miRNA subcellular localization; and miRNA mobility between cells and within plants. In this Review, we discuss new mechanistic insights into miRNA maturation and AGO loading, the subcellular locations of miRNA processing and activity and partitioning of miRNAs between the nucleus and cytoplasm, which in turn affects their intercellular mobility. We also discuss intriguing connections between miRNAs and the translation process and present hypotheses to be tested by future studies.
期刊介绍:
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology is a prestigious journal that aims to be the primary source of reviews and commentaries for the scientific communities it serves. The journal strives to publish articles that are authoritative, accessible, and enriched with easily understandable figures, tables, and other display items. The goal is to provide an unparalleled service to authors, referees, and readers, and the journal works diligently to maximize the usefulness and impact of each article. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology publishes a variety of article types, including Reviews, Perspectives, Comments, and Research Highlights, all of which are relevant to molecular and cell biologists. The journal's broad scope ensures that the articles it publishes reach the widest possible audience.