ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Unravelling Cadmium induced noncoding RNAs and their validations from Finger millet

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in plant responses to abiotic stress. Numerous studies have been increasing in respect to miRNA identification under stress conditions. In this study we analysed the expression patterns of seven miRNAs (miR156, 159, 169, 396, 397, 398 and 399) from cadmium stressed seedlings of Finger millet by RT-qPCR. Further these miRNAs were cloned and sequenced, which conformed its presence. Predicted targets and GO analysis of the miRNAs were found to be involved in diverse cellular processes in plants, development, apoptosis, detoxification, catalysis, protein modification. Cis-regulatory elements identification suggested their involvement in regulatory networks. This is the first study to demonstrate differentially expressed miRNA in Finger millet under cadmium stress. Findings in the present study prominence the role played by miRNAs in Finger millet under cadmium stress.