Genome‐Editing Tools for Engineering of MicroRNAs and Their Encoded Peptides, miPEPs, in Plants

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNAs, which regulate the target gene via binding on complementary sites of the target mRNA. mRNAs lead to downregulating the respective genes either by degradation of mRNAs or by translation inhibition. Recently, it has been reported that primary transcript of miRNAs encoded small peptide called microRNA-encoded peptides (miPEPs). miPEPs are known to enhance the transcription of their own miRNA. Several researches have been carried out throughout the plant's species, which suggested the importance of miRNAs and miPEPs in regulating plant life cycles like growth, development, and responses toward various biotic and abiotic stresses. Various methods have been used to characterize miRNAs. However as far as specificity, effectiveness, and stability are concerned the traditional strategies are not highly satisfactory. Genome-editing techniques like ZFN, TALEN, and CRISPR/Cas9 showed their potential in characterizing various genes and their functions. The CRISPR/Cas9 system is emerging as a novel genome-editing tool in genetic engineering. In this chapter, we have discussed the biogenesis and functions of miRNAs and its encoded peptide in regulating plant biological processes. It also covers different genome-editing tools used for characterizing various miRNAs and miPEPs.