Abstract

microRNAs (miRNA) families play a critical role in plant growth, development, and responses to abiotic stress. In this study, we characterized Up-miR-843 and its targets genes in Ulva prolifera responses to nitrogen depravation and heat stress. The data demonstrated that 184 target genes of Up-miR-843 could be successfully validated. N deficiency not heat stress stimulus induced increase in abundance of the Up-miR-843 while exhibited reverse expression of target genes, including cyclin A3 and cyclin L, which were strictly required for cell cycle progression. In addition, U. prolifera with highly expression of Up-miR-843 showed improved biomass, and photosynthesis compared with that under normal growth conditions. Thus, the N deprivation and heat responsive miRNAs might be a possible member mediating the expression of these target genes, which further regulated the growth of U. prolifera .