Molecular Manipulation of the MiR396/GRF Expression Module Alters the Salt Stress Response of Arabidopsis thaliana

We previously demonstrated that microRNA396 (miR396) abundance is altered in 15-day-old Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) whole seedlings following their exposure to a 7-day salt stress treatment regime. We, therefore, used molecular modification approach generate two new transformant populations with reduced (MIM396 plants) and elevated (MIR396 miR396 abundance. The of 8-day-old wild-type representative plant line the MIM396 MIR396 regime revealed unique phenotypic physiological responses imposed by unmodified plants transformat lines. A quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was, applied demonstrate specific likely stemmed from profile each GROWTH REGULATING FACTOR (GRF) transcription factor gene family members which form posttranscriptional targets miR396-directed expression regulation. RT-qPCR additionally that, seedlings, three identified putative target genes belonging NEUTRAL/ALKALINE NONLYSOSOMAL CERAMIDASE-LIKE (NCER) family, including NCER1, NCER2, NCER3, do not regulation at level. Taken together, analyses presented here alteration miR396/GRF module central response stress.