Maize microrna sequences

Abstract

Methods and compositions useful in target sequence suppression and target sequence validation are described. Polynucleotide constructs useful for gene silencing, as well as cells, plants and seeds comprising the polynucleotides and a method for using microRNAs to silence a target sequence are also described.

1 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising: a microRNA selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:1-2652 and SEQ ID NOs:7959-8114. 
     
     
         2 . The full-length complement of the microRNA of  claim 1 , or a nucleotide sequence capable of hybridizing to the microRNA of  claim 1 , wherein said nucleotide sequence comprises at least 21 nucleotides. 
     
     
         3 . An isolated polynucleotide useful for altering plant gene expression comprising SEQ ID NO:7597 or SEQ ID NO:8427 wherein said isolated polynucleotide comprises at least one functional domain having at least 21(x) contiguous nucleotides and x is an integer from 1 to 2652, further wherein said nucleotides start at nucleotide 1 or any nucleotide 21(x)+1. 
     
     
         4 . A functional subdomain of the isolated polynucleotide of  claim 3 , wherein said functional subdomain comprises at least one microRNA. 
     
     
         5 . An isolated polynucleotide comprising a microRNA containing sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:5305-7956 and SEQ ID NOs:8271-8426. 
     
     
         6 . A recombinant DNA construct comprising the isolated polynucleotide of  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 , or  5  operably linked to at least one regulatory sequence. 
     
     
         7 . A plant, plant tissue, or a plant cell comprising in its genome the recombinant DNA construct of  claim 6 . 
     
     
         8 . Transgenic seeds, transgenic seed by-products, or transgenic progeny plants obtained from the plant of  claim 7 . 
     
     
         9 . A method for altering expression of a stably introduced nucleotide sequence in a plant comprising:
 a) making a DNA expression construct comprising a stably introduced nucleotide sequence and at least one sequence capable of hybridizing to the isolated polynucleotide of  claim 1 ;   b) transforming a plant with the DNA expression construct of part (a); and   c) selecting a transformed plant which comprises the DNA expression construct of part (a) in its genome and which has altered expression of the stably introduced nucleotide sequence when compared to a plant transformed with a modified version of the DNA expression construct of part (a) wherein the modified construct lacks the sequence capable of hybridizing to the isolated polynucleotide of  claim 1 .