MicroRNA（miRNA）是初级miRNA（pri-miRNA）的加工产物，可调节靶基因的表达。尽管已经详细研究了几种成熟植物miRNA的调控作用，但pri-miRNA其他区域的功能仍未被认识。最近的研究表明，一些pri-miRNA可能编码小肽，即miRNA编码的肽（miPEP）。然而，尚未详细研究这些肽的功能。
我们报告说拟南芥的pri-miR858a编码一个小肽miPEP858a，它调节pri-miR858a和相关靶基因的表达。经miPEP858a编辑和过表达miPEP858a的品系显示，由于与苯丙烷途径和生长素信号传导相关的基因表达的变化，植物的生长发生了变化，黄酮类化合物的积累水平得到了调节。
用合成的miPEP858a对miPEP858a编辑的植物进行外源处理，可以补充表型和基因功能。这项研究表明，miPEP858a在控制植物发育和苯丙烷途径中的重要性。
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are processed products of primary miRNAs (pri-miRNAs) and regulate the target gene expression. Though the regulatory roles of the several mature plant miRNAs have been studied in detail, the functions of other regions of the pri-miRNAs are still unrecognized. Recent studies suggest that a few pri-miRNAs may encode small peptides, miRNA-encoded peptides (miPEPs); however, the functions of these peptides have not been studied in detail. We report that the pri-miR858a of Arabidopsis thaliana encodes a small peptide, miPEP858a, which regulates the expression of pri-miR858a and associated target genes. miPEP858a-edited and miPEP858a-overexpressing lines showed altered plant development and accumulated modulated levels of flavonoids due to changes in the expression of genes associated with the phenylpropanoid pathway and auxin signalling. The exogenous treatment of the miPEP858a-edited plants with synthetic miPEP858a complemented the phenotypes and the gene function. This study suggests the importance of miPEP858a in exerting control over plant development and the phenylpropanoid pathway.
来源：
Sharma, A., Badola, P.K., Bhatia, C. et al. Primary transcript of miR858 encodes regulatory peptide and controls flavonoid biosynthesis and development in Arabidopsis. Nat. Plants (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-020-00769-x
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