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Abstract
microRNA is known to play an important role in growth and development of the plants
and also in environmental stress. Ocimum basilicum (Basil) is a well known herb for
its medicinal properties. In this study, we used in-silico approaches to identify
miRNAs and their targets regulating different functions in O. basilicum using EST
approach. Additionally, functional annotation, gene ontology and pathway analysis
of identified target transcripts were also done. Seven miRNA families were identified.
Meaningful regulations of target transcript by identified miRNAs were computationally
evaluated. Four miRNA families have been reported by us for the first time from the
Lamiaceae. Our results further confirmed that uracil was the predominant base in the
first positions of identified mature miRNA sequence, while adenine and uracil were
predominant in pre-miRNA sequences. Phylogenetic analysis was carried out to determine
the relation between O. basilicum and other plant pre-miRNAs. Thirteen potential targets
were evaluated for 4 miRNA families. Majority of the identified target transcripts
regulated by miRNAs showed response to stress. miRNA 5021 was also indicated for playing
an important role in the amino acid metabolism and co-factor metabolism in this plant.
To the best of our knowledge this is the first in silico study describing miRNAs and
their regulation in different metabolic pathways of O. basilicum.