Global survey on sequence characteristics of plant microRNA genes: Cis -regulatory SNPs in promoters and microRNA precursors

So far, numerous miRNA families, both highly conserved and species-specific, have been identified and functionally characterized. However, we are still far from a thorough understanding of these molecules, including their sequence characteristics.

In this bioinformatics study, cis -acting regulatory elements located within plant miRNA promoters were predicted, and a comprehensive list of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) residing within these cis -elements, designated as cis -regulatory SNPs, was identified. These SNPs potentially contribute to the distinct expression patterns of miRNA genes in various Arabidopsis ( Arabidopsis thaliana ) or rice ( Oryza sativa ) subspecies.