Identification and characterization of microRNAs from Phaeodactylum tricornutum by high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics analysis

【摘要】：正Background Diatoms,which are important planktons widespread in various aquatic environments,are believed to play a vital role in primary production as well as silica cycling.The genomes of the pennate diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum and the centric diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana have been sequenced,revealing some characteristics of the diatoms' mosaic genome as well as some features of their fatty acid metabolism and urea cycle,and indicating their unusual properties.To identify microRNAs(miRNAs) from P.tricornutum and to study their probable roles in nitrogen and silicon metabolism,we constructed and sequenced small RNA(sRNA) libraries from P.tricornutum under normal(PT1), nitrogen-limited(PT2) and silicon-limited(PT3) conditions.