In silico analysis micrornas and their targets in faba bean (Vicia faba)

microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of endogenous, non-coding short RNAs, around 21 nucleotides (nt) in length found in eukaryotic cells. To date, they are identified in several plants through experimental and computational approaches where they play important roles in growth, development and stress responses by guiding mRNA cleavage or by repressing translation. However, not a single miRNA has been identified in faba bean (Vicia faba) up till now, which is an important source of protein widely used for human and animal nutrition. The aim of this study is to identify conserved plant miRNAs in faba bean by using homology analysis. 262 candidate miRNAs belonging to 143 miRNA families in faba bean from 20697 expressed sequence tags (EST) and 577 genome survey sequences (GSS) have been found through computational identification of miRNAs using EST based homology analysis approach. All candidate miRNAs were recognised following the miRNA criteria of secondary structure and biogenesis. Moreover, potential targets of these candidate miRNAs were predicted from faba bean ESTs, some of which seem to encode genes in regulation several important biological processes such as development, metabolism, transport, signal transduction and stress response. The results of this study will contribute to further research on miRNAs, leading to an improved understanding of the role miRNAs play in biological processes and the underlying molecular mechanisms of faba bean.