MicroRNA Expression in Maize Roots Under Nitrate Starvation Conditions

Location

CSU Ballroom

Start Date

11-4-2017 10:00 AM

End Date

11-4-2017 11:30 AM

Student's Major

Chemistry and Geology

Student's College

Science, Engineering and Technology

Mentor's Name

James Rife

Mentor's Department

Chemistry and Geology

Mentor's College

Science, Engineering and Technology

Description

Nitrogen is a vital nutrient for all organisms, and nitrogen availability is a major factor in agricultural productivity. Efficient plant growth relies on control by the auxin hormone system, which helps regulate plant root systems by increasing lateral root growth. The purpose of this experiment is to explore how the expression of miR160 and miR167 responds to nitrate availability, as they have previously been shown to regulate Auxin Response Factors (ARFs). Zea mays plants were grown under normal conditions for two weeks, then subjected to nitrogen starvation for two days and finally exposed to various nitrate availabilities for 1 or 22 hours. Extraction of total small RNAs from the roots was performed with a mirVana miRNA isolation kit. The microRNAs were reverse transcribed using a TaqMan Small RNA Assay Reverse Transcription kit. The resulting cDNA was then analyzed via qPCR using TaqMan primers specific for Zea mays miR160 and miR167. The results indicated miR160 and miR167 expression in the elongation zone was lower in nitrate-free conditions compared to their expression in the 1mM nitrate samples. Relative expression levels were reversed in the root tips. Expression of these miRNAs in the root tips in the nitrate-free samples was higher relative to their expression in the 1mM nitrate samples. Future analysis of the extracted mRNAs from these samples will be conducted to see if there is a correlation between these miRNAs and ARF mRNA expression.

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Apr 11th, 10:00 AM Apr 11th, 11:30 AM

MicroRNA Expression in Maize Roots Under Nitrate Starvation Conditions

CSU Ballroom

Nitrogen is a vital nutrient for all organisms, and nitrogen availability is a major factor in agricultural productivity. Efficient plant growth relies on control by the auxin hormone system, which helps regulate plant root systems by increasing lateral root growth. The purpose of this experiment is to explore how the expression of miR160 and miR167 responds to nitrate availability, as they have previously been shown to regulate Auxin Response Factors (ARFs). Zea mays plants were grown under normal conditions for two weeks, then subjected to nitrogen starvation for two days and finally exposed to various nitrate availabilities for 1 or 22 hours. Extraction of total small RNAs from the roots was performed with a mirVana miRNA isolation kit. The microRNAs were reverse transcribed using a TaqMan Small RNA Assay Reverse Transcription kit. The resulting cDNA was then analyzed via qPCR using TaqMan primers specific for Zea mays miR160 and miR167. The results indicated miR160 and miR167 expression in the elongation zone was lower in nitrate-free conditions compared to their expression in the 1mM nitrate samples. Relative expression levels were reversed in the root tips. Expression of these miRNAs in the root tips in the nitrate-free samples was higher relative to their expression in the 1mM nitrate samples. Future analysis of the extracted mRNAs from these samples will be conducted to see if there is a correlation between these miRNAs and ARF mRNA expression.

Recommended Citation

Anderson, Derek. "MicroRNA Expression in Maize Roots Under Nitrate Starvation Conditions." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 11, 2017.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2017/poster-session-A/34