miRNA-like secondary structures in maize (Zea mays) genes and transposable elements correlate with small RNAs, methylation, and expression
Nov 1, 2023·
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1 min read
Galen T. Martin
Edwin Solares
Co-first author
,Jeanelle Guardado-Mendez
Aline Muyle
Alexandros Bousios
Brandon S. Gaut
Abstract
We discovered novel miRNA-like secondary structures in maize (Zea mays) genes and transposable elements that correlate with small RNA production, DNA methylation patterns, and gene expression levels. This finding reveals previously unknown regulatory mechanisms controlling gene activity in one of the world’s most important food crops.
Type
Publication
Genome Research
This research was featured in SDSC and ACCESS-CI press releases. The work demonstrates that RNA secondary structures play a functional role in triggering gene silencing in plants, providing new targets for crop improvement.
Key Findings:
- RNA structures strongly associated with siRNA production
- Structures explain up to 27% of variation in siRNA production
- Discovered new class of tiny RNAs with regulatory potential
Authors
Authors
Edwin Solares
(he/him)
Lecturer in Computer Science & Data Science
I am a computational biologist and data scientist bridging artificial intelligence,
evolutionary genomics, and climate-resilient agriculture. My research leverages
cutting-edge machine learning and bioinformatics to address global food security
challenges in the face of rapid climate change. With publications in high-impact
journals including Nature Plants, PNAS, and Genome Research (h-index: 7), I develop
tools and methods that advance both computational science and real-world applications.
Authors
Authors
Authors
Authors