Small RNAs going the distance during plant development.

Small RNAs are 19-27 nucleotide long RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression and function as important regulators of diverse aspects of plant development. Current models for how they function continue to be modified as new research uncovers additional aspects of their biology. Unexpectedly, several previously characterized small RNAs appear to function non-cell autonomously, some moving a few cells away, others moving throughout the plant. This fact may reflect that small RNAs are an essential component of a larger signaling network that orchestrates plant development. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.