Title: In silico analysis of putative miRNAs and their target genes in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)

Authors: Gobind Ram; Arun Dev Sharma

Addresses: PG Department of Biotechnology, Lyallpur Khalsa College, GT Road, Jallandhar 144001, Punjab, India ' PG Department of Biotechnology, Lyallpur Khalsa College, GT Road, Jallandhar 144001, Punjab, India

Abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous genes regulators which regulate different processes underlying plant adaptation to abiotic stresses. To gain a deep understanding of role of miRNAs in plants, in the present study, we computationally analyzed different sorghum miRNAs in the drought-induced gene sequences. Homologous miRNA were identified using different plant miRNA databases. Using previously established genes databases, various targets of sorghum miRNAs were predicted viz: transcription factors, chaperonins, metabolic enzymes and other gene targets necessary for proper plant development. Analysis of cis-elements provides molecular evidence for the possible involvement of miRNAs in the process of abiotic stress tolerance in sorghum. Based on these results, it was suggested that miRNAs may play an important role in water stress tolerance.

Keywords: in-silico analysis; microRNA; miRNAs; target genes; sorghum; water stress; plant adaptation; abiotic stresses; drought induced gene sequences; transcription factors; chaperonins; metabolic enzymes; plant development; stress tolerance; bioinformatics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBRA.2013.054694

International Journal of Bioinformatics Research and Applications, 2013 Vol.9 No.4, pp.349 - 364

Received: 21 Apr 2011
Accepted: 04 Aug 2011
Published online: 18 Sep 2014 *

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