mRNA/sRNA expression analyses in rice meiotic anthers. Oryza sativa Japonica Group

In meiotic anthers of monocot plants, it is known that large amount of small RNAs, called phasiRNAs, are expressed. This study aimed to know the expression pattern of phasiRNAs and its precursor mRNAs to get novel insight of phasiRNA function in rice anthers. This study also focused on the effect of mutation in tapetum specific transcription factor gene, EAT1, in phasiRNA production. Furthermore, small RNAs captured by the germline specific Argonaute protein, MEL1, from meiotic flowers were sequenced. These analyses demonstrated that the phasiRNAs specifically expressed in early meiotic anther tapetum dependent on EAT1 can function in adjacent germline cells as intercellular mobile signals by interacting with MEL1 Argonaute.