1. Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany
2. Plant Biology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
3. Center for Gene Research and Biotechnology and Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA
4. These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence to: James C. Carrington³Detlef Weigel^1,2 Email: weigel@weigelworld.org
Email: carrington@orst.edu

Abstract

Plants with altered microRNA metabolism have pleiotropic developmental defects, but direct evidence for microRNAs regulating specific aspects of plant morphogenesis has been lacking. In a genetic screen, we identified the JAW locus, which produces a microRNA that can guide messenger RNA cleavage of several TCP genes controlling leaf development. MicroRNA-guided cleavage of TCP4 mRNA is necessary to prevent aberrant activity of the TCP4 gene expressed from its native promoter. In addition, overexpression of wild-type and microRNA-resistant TCP variants demonstrates that mRNA cleavage is largely sufficient to restrict TCP function to its normal domain of activity. TCP genes with microRNA target sequences are found in a wide range of species, indicating that microRNA-mediated control of leaf morphogenesis is conserved in plants with very different leaf forms.

1. Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany
2. Plant Biology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
3. Center for Gene Research and Biotechnology and Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA
4. These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence to: James C. Carrington³Detlef Weigel^1,2 Email: weigel@weigelworld.org
Email: carrington@orst.edu