Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a type of short (21-23 nucleotides), non-coding RNA molecule, mediate repressive gene regulation through RNA silencing at the post-transcriptional level, and play an important role in defense and response to abiotic and biotic stresses. In the present study, Affymetrix® miRNA Array, real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) for miRNAs and their targets, and miRNA promoter analysis were used to validate the gene expression patterns of miRNAs in Populus trichocarpa plantlets induced with the poplar stem canker pathogen, Botryosphaeria dothidea. Twelve miRNAs (miR156, miR159, miR160, miR164, miR166, miR168, miR172, miR319, miR398, miR408, miR1448, and miR1450) were upregulated in the stem bark of P. trichocarpa, but no downregulated miRNAs were found. Based on analysis of the miRNAs and their targets, a potential co-regulatory network was developed to describe post-transcriptional regulation in the pathological development of poplar stem canker. There was highly complex cross-talk between diverse miRNA pathway responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. The results suggest that miR156 is probably an integral component of the miRNA response to all environmental stresses in plants. Cis-regulatory elements were binding sites for the transcription factors (TFs) on DNA. Promoter analysis revealed that TC-rich repeats and a W1-box motif were both tightly related disease response motifs in Populus. Promoter analysis and target analysis of miRNAs also revealed that some TFs regulate their activation/repression. Furthermore, a feedback regulatory network in the pathological development of poplar stem canker is provided. The results confirm that miRNA pathways regulate gene expression during the pathological development of plant disease, and provide new insights into understanding the onset and development of poplar stem canker.
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Claims 10
Claim · model-written summary
Twelve miRNAs were upregulated in P. trichocarpa stem bark after pathogen induction.
- Taxon
- P. trichocarpa
Populus trichocarpae0
- Organ / stage
- stem barke0
- Interactor
- Botryosphaeria dothidea
Botryosphaeria dothideae1pathogen - Gene
- miR156, miR159, miR160, miR164, miR166, miR168, miR172, miR319, miR398, miR408, miR1448, and miR1450e0
- Outcome
- miRNAse0
- Direction
- upregulatede0
- Value
- Twelve miRNAse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
_Cesati_%26_DeNotaris_661320.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“Twelve miRNAs (miR156, miR159, miR160, miR164, miR166, miR168, miR172, miR319, miR398, miR408, miR1448, and miR1450) were upregulated in the stem bark of P. trichocarpa, but no downregulated miRNAs were found.”
e1“poplar stem canker pathogen, Botryosphaeria dothidea”
Claim · model-written summary
No miRNAs were downregulated in P. trichocarpa stem bark.
- Taxon
- Populus trichocarpa
Populus trichocarpat0
- Outcome
- no downregulated miRNAse0
- Direction
- no downregulatede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“but no downregulated miRNAs were found.”
t0“Populus trichocarpa”
Claim · model-written summary
Analysis yielded a potential miRNA target co-regulatory network for canker development.
- Taxon
- Populus trichocarpa
Populus trichocarpat0
- Outcome
- potential co-regulatory networke0
- Qualifier
- post-transcriptional regulatione0
Not reportedComparatorValue
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Based on analysis of the miRNAs and their targets, a potential co-regulatory network was developed to describe post-transcriptional regulation in the pathological development of poplar stem canker.”
t0“Populus trichocarpa”
Claim · model-written summary
Diverse miRNA pathways showed complex cross-talk between biotic and abiotic stress responses.
- Taxon
- Populus trichocarpa
Populus trichocarpat0
- Outcome
- highly complex cross-talke0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“There was highly complex cross-talk between diverse miRNA pathway responses to biotic and abiotic stresses.”
t0“Populus trichocarpa”
Claim · model-written summary
miR156 was suggested as part of the response to all environmental stresses.
- Taxon
- Populus trichocarpa
Populus trichocarpat0
- Gene
- miR156e0
- Outcome
- miRNA response to all environmental stressese0
- Qualifier
- probablye0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The results suggest that miR156 is probably an integral component of the miRNA response to all environmental stresses in plants.”
t0“Populus trichocarpa”
Claim · model-written summary
TC-rich repeats were tightly related disease response motifs in Populus.
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“Promoter analysis revealed that TC-rich repeats and a W1-box motif were both tightly related disease response motifs in Populus.”
Claim · model-written summary
A W1-box motif was tightly related to disease response in Populus.
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“Promoter analysis revealed that TC-rich repeats and a W1-box motif were both tightly related disease response motifs in Populus.”
Claim · model-written summary
Promoter and target analyses indicated regulation of miRNA activation and repression by some transcription factors.
- Taxon
- Populus trichocarpa
Populus trichocarpat0
- Gene
- TFse0
- Outcome
- activation/repressione0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Promoter analysis and target analysis of miRNAs also revealed that some TFs regulate their activation/repression.”
t0“Populus trichocarpa”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors provided a feedback regulatory network for poplar stem canker development.
- Taxon
- Populus trichocarpa
Populus trichocarpat0
- Outcome
- feedback regulatory networke0
Not reportedComparatorValue
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Furthermore, a feedback regulatory network in the pathological development of poplar stem canker is provided.”
t0“Populus trichocarpa”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors concluded that miRNA pathways regulate gene expression during plant disease development.
- Taxon
- Populus trichocarpa
Populus trichocarpat0
- Gene
- miRNA pathwayse0
- Outcome
- gene expressione0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The results confirm that miRNA pathways regulate gene expression during the pathological development of plant disease”
t0“Populus trichocarpa”