microRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding small RNAs that regulate gene expression at post-transcriptional level. Thousands of miRNAs have been identified in legumes, but studies about miRNAs linked to peanut nodule functionality are scarce. In this work we analyzed transcriptional changes in peanut nodules to identify miRNAs involved in functional processes of these organs. We found 32 miRNAs precursors differentially expressed in nodules compared with roots, and predicted the potential targets of their corresponding mature miRNAs. Among them, 20 belong to 14 conserved miRNAs families and 12 are Arachis hypogaea -specific miRNAs. Expression levels of 3 miRNAs (ahy-miR399, ahy-miR159 and ahy-miR3508) were confirmed experimentally by qPCR. We also demonstrated that the expression of these miRNAs was not affected by inoculation of a biocontrol bacterium or a fungal pathogen. The catalogue of differentially expressed miRNA precursors and the expression of the corresponding mature miRNA potential targets in the nodules of A. hypogaea obtained in this work is a database of strong candidates, including A. hypogaea -specific miRNAs, for the regulation of the nodule functionality. The analysis of their role in this process will certainly lead to the characterization of essential regulators in these particular aeschynomenoid nodules.

中文翻译：

---

鉴定与花生根瘤功能过程相关的miRNA

microRNA (miRNA) 是非编码小 RNA，可在转录后水平调节基因表达。已经在豆科植物中鉴定了数以千计的 miRNA，但关于与花生根瘤功能相关的 miRNA 的研究很少。在这项工作中，我们分析了花生根瘤的转录变化，以确定参与这些器官功能过程的 miRNA。我们发现与根相比在根瘤中差异表达的 32 种 miRNA 前体，并预测了其相应成熟 miRNA 的潜在靶标。其中，20 个属于 14 个保守的 miRNA 家族，12 个是花生的特异性 miRNA。通过 qPCR 实验证实了 3 种 miRNA（ahy-miR399、ahy-miR159 和 ahy-miR3508）的表达水平。我们还证明了这些 miRNA 的表达不受接种生物防治细菌或真菌病原体的影响。在这项工作中获得的 A. hypogaea 根瘤中差异表达的 miRNA 前体目录和相应成熟 miRNA 潜在靶标的表达是一个强大的候选数据库，包括 A. hypogaea 特异性 miRNAs，用于调节根瘤功能. 对它们在这个过程中的作用的分析肯定会导致对这些特定 aeschynomenoid 结节中基本调节因子的表征。hypogaea 特异性 miRNA，用于调节结节功能。对它们在这个过程中的作用的分析肯定会导致对这些特定 aeschynomenoid 结节中基本调节因子的表征。hypogaea 特异性 miRNA，用于调节结节功能。对它们在这个过程中的作用的分析肯定会导致对这些特定 aeschynomenoid 结节中基本调节因子的表征。