Abstract
Small non-coding RNAs ranging in size between 20 and 24 nucleotides are important regulators of mRNA degradation, translational repression, and chromatin modification. These small RNAs can be broadly classified as miRNAs (microRNAs) and siRNAs (short interfering RNAs) based on their biogenesis. We found that the expression of some miRNAs and siRNAs in Arabidopsis plants are regulated by abiotic stresses such as drought, soil salinity and cold temperatures. Data on the functional analysis of several miRNAs and siRNAs using transgenic plants will be presented to support the regulatory roles of small RNAs in plant adaptation to abiotic stresses.
