Small RNA–Mediated Defense Networks in Wheat Dwarf Virus–Challenged Wheat #TopTeachers
The interaction between Wheat dwarf virus (WDV) and Wheat represents a complex molecular battle in which small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) play a central regulatory role. WDV, a member of the Geminiviridae family, is a single-stranded DNA virus transmitted by leafhoppers that significantly reduces wheat yield and quality. Upon infection, wheat activates a sophisticated gene-regulatory network, prominently involving microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). These small RNAs function as critical modulators of gene expression, coordinating antiviral defense, stress adaptation, and immune signaling. Small non-coding RNAs are short RNA molecules, typically 20–24 nucleotides in length, that do not encode proteins but regulate gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. In WDV-infected wheat, miRNAs primarily regulate endogenous host genes. They bind to complementary messenger RNAs (mRNAs), leading to mRNA cleavage or translational repression. T...