Soybean ( Glycine max ) Micrornas Display Proclivity to Repress Begomovirus Genomes

Small non-coding RNAs are important effector molecules in response to pathogen invasion in plants and animals. We conducted in silico analysis of the DNA genomes of two distinct species of genus Begomovirus (family Geminiviridae)-Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV) and Mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV) -that infect soybean using a micro- RNA (miRNA) target prediction algorithm, plant small RNA target analyzing server. MYMV displays greater vulnerability to plant miRNAs with 99 miRNAs targeting its genome, whereas 70 miRNAs appear to be targeting the MYMIV genome. miRNAs derived from Glycine max, Glycine soja and Cajanus cajan display 63, 18, and 8 potential target sites on the begomovirus genomes. Among the non-host plants begomoviruses exhibit seven and six potential target sites for O. sativa, and P. trichocarpa-derived miRNAs respectively. Begomovirus ORFs encoding viral movement proteins reveal greater vulnerability for G. max-derived miRNA binding and repression. Computational analysis with ssDNA animal virus genome as negative control sequences further emphasizes that plant miRNAs preferentially target begomovirus genomes. Nine prospective soybean-derived miRNAs targeting begomovirus genes have been shown to play a role in host-microbe interactions and abiotic stress responsiveness. The study thus provides in silico evidence for the plant-derived miRNAs in antiviral immunity.