Premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs are present in the Zea genus and unique in biogenesis mechanism and molecular function [Smart-seq2+nanoPARE]
Reproductive phasiRNAs are broadly present in angiosperms and play crucial roles in sustaining male fertility. While the premeiotic 21-nt phasiRNAs and meiotic 24-nt phasiRNA pathways have been extensively studied in maize (Zea mays) and rice (Oryza sativa), a third putative category of reproductive phasiRNAs–named premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs–have recently been reported in barley (Hordeum vulgare) and wheat (Triticum aestivum). To determine whether premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs are also present in maize and related species and begin to characterize their biogenesis and function, we performed a comparative transcriptome and degradome analysis of premeiotic and meiotic anthers from five maize inbred lines and three teosinte species/subspecies. Our data indicate that a substantial subset of the 24-nt phasiRNA loci in maize and teosinte are already highly expressed at premeiotic phase. The premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs are similar to meiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs in genomic origin and dependence on DCL5 for biogenesis, but premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs are unique in that they are likely (i) not triggered by microRNAs, (ii) not loaded by AGO18 proteins, and (iii) not capable of mediating cis-cleavage. In addition, we also observed a group of premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs in rice using previously published data. Together, our results indicate that the premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs constitute a unique class of reproductive phasiRNAs and are present more broadly in the grass lineage than previously known. Overall design: Small RNA and degradome profiling of anther materials from five maize inbred lines, a maize mutant, and three teosinte species or subspecies Please note that each processed data file was generated from both Smart-seq2 and nanoPARE samples, and is linked to the corresponding Smart-seq2 sample record. Please note that the *mm in sample titles represents the length of the anther used for the corresponding sample (e.g. 0.4-mm anther for 'B73-0.4mm-rep1' sample), and that the 'ago18HM' and 'ago18HT' represents 'ago18 triple homozygous mutant' and 'ago18 triple heterozygote', respectively.