Target Mimic and Short Tandem Target Mimic Technologies for Deciphering Functions of miRNAs in Plants

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are central players in the regulation of gene expression at post-transcriptional level and are involved in numerous biological processes in both plants and animals. However, deciphering the function of a miRNA family, based on generation and characterization of miRNA mutants, has been difficult because of their small sizes and multiple functionally redundant members. The recently developed approaches termed Target Mimic (TM) and Short Tandem Target Mimic (STTM) overcome these barriers and can destroy specific miRNA function effectively. These methods have become a key tool in investigating miRNAs functions. In this chapter, we will introduce the development of TM and STTM, and the construction of STTM and its application in plants.