IDENTIFICATION OF MICRO-RNAS RESPONDING TO ZnSO4 STRESS IN GONADS OF SEA URCHIN (Strongylocentrotus nudus)

摘要

It has been evidenced that micro-RNAs, a class of small non-coding RNAs, are key regulators responding to heavy metal stress. Up to date, identification and characterization of micro-RNAs responding to heavy metal stress in gonads of sea urchin have not been fully elucidated. In this study, the expressional variation of micro-RNAs between normal sea urchin gonads and that stressed by 0.1 mM ZnSO4 for 12 h was compared utilizing microarray assay. The results showed 279 micro-RNAs were detected in control gonads, while 103 in Zn-stressed sample, indicating that Zn treatment decreased the expression level of micro-RNAs. In addition, 36 micro-RNAs expressed significantly varied between control and Zn-treated gonads including 16 down- and 20 up-regulated micro-RNAs. Prediction and functional annotation of targets of these 36 micro-RNAs uncovered that micro-NAs play roles in a broad range of physiological processes under Zn stress, such as Zn transporter, DNA methylation and histone modification, as well as the chaperones binding to unfold proteins, highlighting the potential roles of sea urchin micro-NAs in responding to heavy metal stress.