Genomic Analyses of Arabidopsis miRNAs: Their Roles in Flower Development.

The focus of this project is to characterize the functions of the Arabidopsis complement of microRNAs (miRNAs), and to identify the gene regulatory networks in which they may participate (in particular during flower development), by using microarray analysis of miRNA expression and other genomic approaches.

The primary objectives are:

• To revise and, if necessary, extend the computational identification of Arabidopsis microRNAs.
• To develop a microarray platform for miRNA expression detection.
• To conduct miRNA expression profiling experiments aimed at understanding the roles of miRNAs during flower development, at gaining experimental evidence for predicted miRNAs, and at identifying miRNA targets.
• To develop a method for monitoring miRNA expression and activity in vivo and to use it for studies on miRNAs involved in flower development.

For additional information, please visit the project's specific web site at: http://2010mirna.caltech.edu