Six Medicago truncatula Dicer-like protein genes are expressed in plant cells and upregulated in nodules.

KEY MESSAGE: Here we report the existence of six putative Dicer-like genes in the Medicago truncatula genome. They are ubiquitously expressed throughout the plant and significantly induced in root nodules. Over the past decade, small noncoding RNAs (sncRNA) have emerged as widespread and important regulatory molecules influencing both the structure and expression of plant genomes. One of the key factors involved in sncRNA biogenesis in plants is a group of RNase III-type nucleases known as Dicer-like (DCL) proteins. Based on functional analysis of DCL proteins identified in Arabidopsis thaliana, four types of DCLs were distinguished (DCL1-4). DCL1 mainly produces 21 nt miRNAs. The products generated by DCL2, DCL3, and DCL4 belong to various classes of siRNAs that are 22, 24 and 21 nt in length, respectively. M. truncatula is a model legume plant closely related to many economically important cultivable species. By screening the recent M. truncatula genome assembly, we were able to identify three new DCL genes in addition to the MtDCL1-3 genes that had been earlier characterized. The newly found genes include MtDCL4 and two MtDCL2 homologs. We showed that all six M. truncatula DCL genes are expressed in plant cells. The first of the identified MtDCL2 paralogs encodes a truncated version of the DCL2 protein, while the second undergoes substantial and specific upregulation in the root nodules. Additionally, we identified an alternative splicing variant of MtDCL1 mRNA, similar to the one found in Arabidopsis. Our results indicate that DCL genes are differently activated during Medicago symbiosis with nitrogen fixing bacteria and upon pathogen infection. In addition, we hypothesize that the alternative splicing variant of MtDCL1 mRNA may be involved in tissue-specific regulation of the DCL1 level.