MicroRNA-Mediated Responses: Adaptations to Marine Extreme Environments

Extreme environments are characterized by peculiar conditions, such as hypoxia/anoxia, freezing/heat temperatures, and desiccation. With climate change, more and more habitats are facing extreme conditions and living communities are finding ways to adapt in order to survive. In this study, we show several species which have been shown to adapt to marine extreme conditions also via miRNA-mediated responses. miRNAs are a class of small non-coding RNAs that mediate gene regulation via interactions with transcripts. Their action can directly or indirectly regulate pathways that can result in a response to a specific condition. Furthermore, the study of these miRNA-mediated responses could help in the biotechnological field for their application in the development of environmental biomarkers of stress conditions, or in the genetic engineering of algal species for the production of high-value compounds.

Automated summary

Extreme environments have unique conditions, including hypoxia/anoxia, freezing/heat temperatures, and desiccation. Species are adapting to these conditions through miRNA-mediated responses. miRNAs regulate gene expression and can directly or indirectly influence pathways, leading to specific responses. Understanding these miRNA-mediated responses can have applications in developing biomarkers of stress and genetic engineering of algal species.