Identification of miRNAs Involved in Lipid Metabolism and Tuber Development in <i>Cyperus esculentus</i> L.

Tiger nut (<i>Cyperus esculentus</i> L.) is recognized for its high oil and oleic acid content in underground tubers. However, the molecular mechanisms governing growth, development, and fatty acid accumulation in these tubers are not well understood. This study employed gas chromatograp...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yunfei Gao, Le Wang, Shanshan Cao, Liangyu Chen, Xueying Li, Weixuan Cong, Songnan Yang, Jian Zhang, Xiaojun Nie, Jun Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Plants
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/23/3305
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850060183228645376
author Yunfei Gao
Le Wang
Shanshan Cao
Liangyu Chen
Xueying Li
Weixuan Cong
Songnan Yang
Jian Zhang
Xiaojun Nie
Jun Zhang
author_facet Yunfei Gao
Le Wang
Shanshan Cao
Liangyu Chen
Xueying Li
Weixuan Cong
Songnan Yang
Jian Zhang
Xiaojun Nie
Jun Zhang
author_sort Yunfei Gao
collection DOAJ
description Tiger nut (<i>Cyperus esculentus</i> L.) is recognized for its high oil and oleic acid content in underground tubers. However, the molecular mechanisms governing growth, development, and fatty acid accumulation in these tubers are not well understood. This study employed gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and small RNA sequencing on tiger nut tubers across five developmental stages. The findings indicate that the critical period for accumulating dry matter and oils, particularly oleic acid, occurs between 35 and 75 days after tuber formation. A total of 183 microRNAs (miRNAs) were identified, comprising 31 known and 152 novel miRNAs. Approximately half of these miRNAs (such as ces-miR156b-3p and ces-miR166a-3p) exhibited differential expression during and around the key periods of metabolite synthesis. The predicted target genes of these miRNAs were significantly enriched in glycerate 3-phosphate metabolism and cell growth processes. Furthermore, 13 miRNA–mRNA interaction modules related to oil accumulation and tuber growth were identified, and these target genes’ expression levels showed significant differences during the tuber developmental stages. These findings advance the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying tuber development and oil accumulation in tiger nut.
format Article
id doaj-art-eeedfb2b2a8c4468bf75c5b4d502e3e2
institution DOAJ
issn 2223-7747
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Plants
spelling doaj-art-eeedfb2b2a8c4468bf75c5b4d502e3e22025-08-20T02:50:40ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472024-11-011323330510.3390/plants13233305Identification of miRNAs Involved in Lipid Metabolism and Tuber Development in <i>Cyperus esculentus</i> L.Yunfei Gao0Le Wang1Shanshan Cao2Liangyu Chen3Xueying Li4Weixuan Cong5Songnan Yang6Jian Zhang7Xiaojun Nie8Jun Zhang9College of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, ChinaCollege of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, ChinaCollege of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, ChinaCollege of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, ChinaCollege of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, ChinaCollege of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, ChinaCollege of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, ChinaCollege of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, ChinaState Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-Efficiency Production, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, ChinaCollege of Agronomy, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, ChinaTiger nut (<i>Cyperus esculentus</i> L.) is recognized for its high oil and oleic acid content in underground tubers. However, the molecular mechanisms governing growth, development, and fatty acid accumulation in these tubers are not well understood. This study employed gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and small RNA sequencing on tiger nut tubers across five developmental stages. The findings indicate that the critical period for accumulating dry matter and oils, particularly oleic acid, occurs between 35 and 75 days after tuber formation. A total of 183 microRNAs (miRNAs) were identified, comprising 31 known and 152 novel miRNAs. Approximately half of these miRNAs (such as ces-miR156b-3p and ces-miR166a-3p) exhibited differential expression during and around the key periods of metabolite synthesis. The predicted target genes of these miRNAs were significantly enriched in glycerate 3-phosphate metabolism and cell growth processes. Furthermore, 13 miRNA–mRNA interaction modules related to oil accumulation and tuber growth were identified, and these target genes’ expression levels showed significant differences during the tuber developmental stages. These findings advance the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying tuber development and oil accumulation in tiger nut.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/23/3305<i>Cyperus esculentus</i>miRNAsGC-MSoil synthesistuber development
spellingShingle Yunfei Gao
Le Wang
Shanshan Cao
Liangyu Chen
Xueying Li
Weixuan Cong
Songnan Yang
Jian Zhang
Xiaojun Nie
Jun Zhang
Identification of miRNAs Involved in Lipid Metabolism and Tuber Development in <i>Cyperus esculentus</i> L.
Plants
<i>Cyperus esculentus</i>
miRNAs
GC-MS
oil synthesis
tuber development
title Identification of miRNAs Involved in Lipid Metabolism and Tuber Development in <i>Cyperus esculentus</i> L.
title_full Identification of miRNAs Involved in Lipid Metabolism and Tuber Development in <i>Cyperus esculentus</i> L.
title_fullStr Identification of miRNAs Involved in Lipid Metabolism and Tuber Development in <i>Cyperus esculentus</i> L.
title_full_unstemmed Identification of miRNAs Involved in Lipid Metabolism and Tuber Development in <i>Cyperus esculentus</i> L.
title_short Identification of miRNAs Involved in Lipid Metabolism and Tuber Development in <i>Cyperus esculentus</i> L.
title_sort identification of mirnas involved in lipid metabolism and tuber development in i cyperus esculentus i l
topic <i>Cyperus esculentus</i>
miRNAs
GC-MS
oil synthesis
tuber development
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/23/3305
work_keys_str_mv AT yunfeigao identificationofmirnasinvolvedinlipidmetabolismandtuberdevelopmentinicyperusesculentusil
AT lewang identificationofmirnasinvolvedinlipidmetabolismandtuberdevelopmentinicyperusesculentusil
AT shanshancao identificationofmirnasinvolvedinlipidmetabolismandtuberdevelopmentinicyperusesculentusil
AT liangyuchen identificationofmirnasinvolvedinlipidmetabolismandtuberdevelopmentinicyperusesculentusil
AT xueyingli identificationofmirnasinvolvedinlipidmetabolismandtuberdevelopmentinicyperusesculentusil
AT weixuancong identificationofmirnasinvolvedinlipidmetabolismandtuberdevelopmentinicyperusesculentusil
AT songnanyang identificationofmirnasinvolvedinlipidmetabolismandtuberdevelopmentinicyperusesculentusil
AT jianzhang identificationofmirnasinvolvedinlipidmetabolismandtuberdevelopmentinicyperusesculentusil
AT xiaojunnie identificationofmirnasinvolvedinlipidmetabolismandtuberdevelopmentinicyperusesculentusil
AT junzhang identificationofmirnasinvolvedinlipidmetabolismandtuberdevelopmentinicyperusesculentusil