June 1, 2007Open Access
View Full PaperMicro RNAs and Short‐interfering RNAs in Plants
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Abstract
Abstract Gene silencing can occur either at the transcriptional level or post‐transcriptional level or both. Many instances of sequence‐specific silencing requires small RNAs that can be divided into two major classes: microRNAs (miRNAs) and short‐interfering RNAs (siRNAs). miRNAs function in post‐transcriptional gene silencing by guiding mRNA degradation or translational repression. Endogenous siRNAs are more diverse in plants than in animals and can direct post‐transcriptional gene silencing through mRNA degradation or transcriptional gene silencing by triggering DNA methylation and histone modifications. This review discusses recent advances in the field of small RNA‐guided gene silencing in plants including rice.