| In this study, we predicted and characterized conserved microRNA (miRNA) and their target genes in Cocos nucifera based on sequence information of coconut transcriptome and miRNA in miRBase. Based on miRNA sequences in miRBase, 41 miRNAs were predicted, which were classified into 22 miRNA families. Moreover, thirteen of these miRNAfamilies were highly conserved in plants, which were detected in more than 19 species in miRBase, while miR902, miR2673 and miR414 family were not conserved and were detected in one to two species. Majority of mature miRNA sequences were 21 nucleotides in length (59.5%), while most of precursor of these miRNA were between 50 to 100 nucleotides. Comparison of precursor miRNAs of miR396 family showed that the region of mature miRNA and miRNA were highly conserved, but the loop region were highly variable. Meanwhile, predicted target genes of these miRNA families demonstrated that target genes of conversed miRNA family were mainly belong to gene family of important transcription factor related with plant growth and development, while gene targets of not conserved miRNA family encoded the proteins related to control plant phenotype. |
