Developmental changes in barley microRNA expression profiles coupled with miRNA target analysis

MicroRNAs are 19- to 24-nt-long single-stranded RNAs that are crucial regulators of gene expression which control plant development and response to environmental cues. We have analyzed microtranscriptomes of five barley developmental stages. Generally, during the barley development, miR168-3p and miR1432-5p levels increase while the 5'U-miR156-5p level decreases (with exception for the 2-week-old barley). We have identified two miR156-5p izomiRs (called 5'U-miR156-5p [20 nt] and 5'UU-miR156-5p [21 nt]), which were expressed differently during barley development. The 5'U-miR156-5p level decreased in 3-week-, 6-week-, and 68-day-old barley, when compared to the 1-week-old plants. Meanwhile, the 5'UU-miR156-5p level increased significantly in the 68-day-old barley plants. Moreover, only the 5'U-miR156 isomiR recognizes and guides unique transcription factor mRNAs from the Squamosa Promoter Binding Protein-Like (SPL) family. We identified many non-canonical microRNAs with changed expression levels during the barley development. Here, we present the profiles of microRNA expression characteristics for particular barley developmental stages. These analyses are accompanied by the experimental degradome analysis of miRNA targets.