Plant miRNA systems: investigating slicing versus translational repression and the development of an antiviral defense mechanism

The discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs) has transformed our understanding of how complex genomes are regulated and provided new opportunities to manipulate these genomes through biotechnological means. Despite this, our understanding of how miRNA recognise and repress their mRNA targets remains poorly understood. Using a unique set of genetic resources we have developed in the model plant Arabidopsis, along with the latest molecular technologies, we aim to accurately define the base-pairing requirements and mechanisms of miRNA regulation. Finally we aim to investigate a possible miRNA surveillance system that is activated by viral silencing suppressors. Development of this system may result in a novel source of resistance to viral pathogens