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Review
. 2013 Nov;8(11):e26955.
doi: 10.4161/psb.26955. Epub 2013 Dec 3.

The crosstalk between plant microRNA biogenesis factors and the spliceosome

Zofia Szweykowska-Kulińska  1 , Artur Jarmolowski  1 , Franck Vazquez  2
Affiliations
Review

The crosstalk between plant microRNA biogenesis factors and the spliceosome

Zofia Szweykowska-Kulińska et al. Plant Signal Behav. 2013 Nov.

Abstract

Many of the plant microRNA (miRNA) genes contain introns. The miRNA-containing hairpin loop structure is predominantly located within the first exon of such pri-miRNAs. We have shown that the downstream intron and its splicing are important for the regulation of the processing of these pri-miRNAs. The 5' splice site in MIR genes is essential in the process of miRNA biogenesis. We postulate that the presence of yet undefined interactions between U1 snRNP and the pri-miRNA processing machinery leads to an increase in the efficiency of miRNA biogenesis. The 5' splice site also decreases the accessibility of the polyadenylation machinery to the pri-miRNA polyA signal located within the same intron. It is likely that the spliceosome assembly controls the length and structure of MIR primary transcripts, and regulates mature miRNA levels. The emerging picture shows that introns, splicing, and/or alternative splicing have highly relevant roles in regulating the miRNA levels in very specific conditions that contribute to proper plant response to stress conditions.

Keywords: intron-containing pri-miRNAs; plant microRNA biogenesis; polyadenylation; splicing.

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Figures

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Figure 1. A model showing splicing machinery stimulatory effect on miRNA biogenesis. A downstream intron and its 5′ splice site play an important role in the miRNA biogenesis boosting effect, while the 3′ splice site plays a minor role in this process. Yet unknown U1 snRNP components interact with the pri-miRNA biogenesis machinery enhancing miRNA production, and inhibiting the proximal (intronic) polyA site selection. SR proteins interacting with U1snRNP complex and other splicing machinery elements exert positive effects on the mature miRNA level. Thick lines represent exons, and thin lines introns. Grey parts of the stem-loop structure mark miRNA and miRNA*. Arrows show stimulatory effects, while a no-headed arrow points to the inhibitory effect. Black arrows depict strong positive effects, while dashed arrows show a weak stimulation. Open boxes inserted within the pri-miRNA structure represent proximal and distal polyadenylation sites (PAS). CBC, Cap-Binding Complex; SE, SERRATE; DCL1, Dicer Like 1; U1 snRNP, U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle; SR, Serine Arginine Rich Proteins; 5′ss and 3′ss means the 5′ and 3′ splicing site, respectively.
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Figure 2. Splicing and alternative splicing play a regulatory role in the miRNA production. (A) The presence of an intron downstream to the miRNA stem-loop structure secures the proper miRNA production and plant functioning. (B) Alternative splicing provides a fine-tuning regulatory mechanism that controls the mature miRNA level, enabling plant to respond to various environmental cues. Dashed lines represent splicing and alternative splicing events. Other symbols are as described in
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