Rice germline‐specific Argonaute MEL1 protein binds to phasiRNAs generated from more than 700 lincRNAs |
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Authors: | Reina Komiya Hajime Ohyanagi Mitsuru Niihama Toshiaki Watanabe Mutsuko Nakano Nori Kurata Ken‐Ichi Nonomura |
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Affiliation: | 1. Experimental Farm, National Institute of Genetics (NIG), , Mishima, Shizuoka, 411‐8540 Japan;2. Plant Genetics Laboratory, NIG, , Mishima, Shizuoka, 411‐8540 Japan;3. Mitsubishi Space Software Co., Ltd, , Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305‐0032 Japan;4. Yale Stem Cell Center and Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Yale University, , New Haven, CT, 06520 USA;5. Department of Life Science, Graduate University for Advanced Studies/Sokendai, , Mishima, Shizuoka, 411‐8540 Japan |
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Abstract: | Small RNAs that interact with Argonaute (AGO) proteins play central roles in RNA‐mediated silencing. MEIOSIS ARRESTED AT LEPTOTENE1 (MEL1), a rice AGO, has specific functions in the development of pre‐meiotic germ cells and the progression of meiosis. Here, we show that MEL1, which is located mostly in the cytoplasm of germ cells, associates preferentially with 21‐nucleotide phased small interfering RNAs (phasiRNAs) that bear a 5′‐terminal cytosine. Most phasiRNAs are derived from 1171 intergenic clusters distributed on all rice chromosomes. From these clusters, over 700 large intergenic, non‐coding RNAs (lincRNAs) that contain the consensus sequence complementary to miR2118 are transcribed specifically in inflorescences, and cleaved within the miR2118 site. Cleaved lincRNAs are processed via DICER‐LIKE4 (DCL4) protein, resulting in production of phasiRNAs. This study provides the evidence that the miR2118‐dependent and the DCL4‐dependent pathways are both required for biogenesis of 21‐nt phasiRNAs associated with germline‐specific MEL1 AGO in rice, and over 700 lincRNAs are key factors for induction of this biogenesis during reproductive‐specific stages. |
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Keywords: | Argonaute lincRNA phasiRNA reproduction rice |
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