Reproductive phasiRNAs regulate reprogramming of gene expression and meiotic progression in rice

Yu-Chan Zhang (), Meng-Qi Lei, Yan-Fei Zhou, Yu-Wei Yang, Jian-Ping Lian, Yang Yu, Yan-Zhao Feng, Ke-Ren Zhou, Rui-Rui He, Huang He, Zhi Zhang, Jian-Hua Yang and Yue-Qin Chen ()
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Yu-Chan Zhang: Sun Yat-Sen University
Meng-Qi Lei: Sun Yat-Sen University
Yan-Fei Zhou: Sun Yat-Sen University
Yu-Wei Yang: Sun Yat-Sen University
Jian-Ping Lian: Sun Yat-Sen University
Yang Yu: Sun Yat-Sen University
Yan-Zhao Feng: Sun Yat-Sen University
Ke-Ren Zhou: Sun Yat-Sen University
Rui-Rui He: Sun Yat-Sen University
Huang He: Sun Yat-Sen University
Zhi Zhang: Sun Yat-Sen University
Jian-Hua Yang: Sun Yat-Sen University
Yue-Qin Chen: Sun Yat-Sen University

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Plant spermatogenesis is a complex process that directly affects crop breeding. A rapid change in gene abundance occurs at early meiosis prophase, when gene regulation is selective. However, how these genes are regulated remains unknown. Here, we show that rice reproductive phasiRNAs are essential for the elimination of a specific set of RNAs during meiotic prophase I. These phasiRNAs cleave target mRNAs in a regulatory manner such that one phasiRNA can target more than one gene, and/or a single gene can be targeted by more than one phasiRNA to efficiently silence target genes. Our investigation of phasiRNA-knockdown and PHAS-edited transgenic plants demonstrates that phasiRNAs and their nucleotide variations are required for meiosis progression and fertility. This study highlights the importance of reproductive phasiRNAs for the reprogramming of gene expression during meiotic progression and establishes a basis for future studies on the roles of phasiRNAs with a goal of crop improvement.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19922-3

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