Several protein families participate in the biogenesis and function of small RNAs (sRNAs) in plants. Those with primary roles include Dicer-like (DCL), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDR), and Argonaute (AGO) proteins. Protein families such as double-stranded RNA-binding (DRB), SERRATE (SE), and SUPPRESSION OF SILENCING 3 (SGS3) act as partners of DCL or RDR proteins. Here, we present curated annotations and phylogenetic analyses of seven sRNA pathway protein families performed on 196 species in the Viridiplantae (aka green plants) lineage. Our results suggest that the RDR3 proteins emerged earlier than RDR1/2/6. RDR6 is found in filamentous green algae and all land plants, suggesting that the evolution of RDR6 proteins coincides with the evolution of phased small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). We traced the origin of the 24-nt reproductive phased siRNA-associated DCL5 protein back to the American sweet flag (Acorus americanus), the earliest diverged, extant monocot species. Our analyses of AGOs identified multiple duplication events of AGO genes that were lost, retained, or further duplicated in subgroups, indicating that the evolution of AGOs is complex in monocots. The results also refine the evolution of several clades of AGO proteins, such as AGO4, AGO6, AGO17, and AGO18. Analyses of nuclear localization signal sequences and catalytic triads of AGO proteins shed light on the regulatory roles of diverse AGOs. Collectively, this work generates a curated and evolutionarily coherent annotation for gene families involved in plant sRNA biogenesis/function and provides insights into the evolution of major sRNA pathways.
more » « less- Award ID(s):
- 1754097
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10404100
- Publisher / Repository:
- Oxford University Press
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Plant Physiology
- ISSN:
- 0032-0889
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
null (Ed.)Abstract In monocots other than maize (Zea mays) and rice (Oryza sativa), the repertoire and diversity of microRNAs (miRNAs) and the populations of phased, secondary, small interfering RNAs (phasiRNAs) are poorly characterized. To remedy this, we sequenced small RNAs (sRNA) from vegetative and dissected inflorescence tissue in 28 phylogenetically diverse monocots and from several early-diverging angiosperm lineages, as well as publicly available data from 10 additional monocot species. We annotated miRNAs, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and phasiRNAs across the monocot phylogeny, identifying miRNAs apparently lost or gained in the grasses relative to other monocot families, as well as a number of transfer RNA fragments misannotated as miRNAs. Using our miRNA database cleaned of these misannotations, we identified conservation at the 8th, 9th, 19th, and 3′-end positions that we hypothesize are signatures of selection for processing, targeting, or Argonaute sorting. We show that 21-nucleotide (nt) reproductive phasiRNAs are far more numerous in grass genomes than other monocots. Based on sequenced monocot genomes and transcriptomes, DICER-LIKE5, important to 24-nt phasiRNA biogenesis, likely originated via gene duplication before the diversification of the grasses. This curated database of phylogenetically diverse monocot miRNAs, siRNAs, and phasiRNAs represents a large collection of data that should facilitate continued exploration of sRNA diversification in flowering plants.more » « less
-
Summary In plants, 24 nucleotide long heterochromatic si
RNA s (het‐siRNA s) transcriptionally regulate gene expression byRNA ‐directedDNA methylation (RdDM ). The biogenesis of most het‐siRNA s depends on the plant‐specificRNA polymeraseIV (PolIV ), andARGONAUTE 4 (AGO 4) is a major het‐siRNA effector protein. Through genome‐wide analysis ofsRNA ‐seq data sets, we found that is required for the accumulation of a small subset of het‐siAGO 4RNA s. The accumulation of ‐dependent het‐siAGO 4RNA s also requires several factors known to participate in the effector portion of the RdDM pathway, includingRNA POLYMERASE V (POL V),DOMAINS REARRANGED METHYLTRANSFERASE 2 (DRM 2) andSAWADEE HOMEODOMAIN HOMOLOGUE 1 (SHH 1). Like manyAGO proteins,AGO 4 is an endonuclease that can ‘slice’RNA s. We found that a slicing‐defectiveAGO 4 was unable to fully recover dependent het‐siAGO 4‐RNA accumulation fromago4 mutant plants. Collectively, our data suggest that ‐dependent siAGO 4RNA s are secondary siRNA s dependent on the prior activity of the RdDM pathway at certain loci. -
Summary Plant small
RNA s (sRNA s) modulate key physiological mechanisms through post‐transcriptional and transcriptional silencing of gene expression. SmallRNA s fall into two major categories: those are reliant onRNA ‐dependentRNA polymerases ( s) for biogenesis and those that are not. KnownRDR /RDR 12 /6 ‐dependentsRNA s include phased and repeat‐associated short interferingRNA s, while known /RDR 12 /6 ‐independentsRNA s are primarily microRNA s (miRNA ) and other hairpin‐derivedsRNA s. In this study we produced and analyzedsRNA ‐seq libraries fromrdr1 /rdr2 /rdr6 triple mutant plants. We found 58 previously annotated miRNA loci that were reliant on , ‐RDR 12 , or ‐6 function, casting doubt on their classification. We also found 38 /RDR 12 /6‐independentsRNA loci that are not s or otherwise hairpin‐derived, and did not fit into other known paradigms forMIRNA sRNA biogenesis. These 38sRNA ‐producing loci have as‐yet‐undescribed biogenesis mechanisms, and are frequently located in the vicinity of protein‐coding genes. Altogether, our analysis suggests that these 38 loci represent one or more undescribed types ofsRNA inArabidopsis thaliana . -
Summary Phased secondary siRNAs (phasiRNAs) are broadly present in the reproductive tissues of flowering plants, with spatial–temporal specificity. However, the ARGONAUTE (AGO) proteins associated with phasiRNAs and their miRNA triggers remain elusive.
Here, through histological and high‐throughput sequencing analyses, we show that rice AGO1d, which is specifically expressed in anther wall cells before and during meiosis, associates with both miR2118 and miR2275 to mediate phasiRNA biogenesis.
AGO1d preferentially binds to miR2118‐triggered 21‐nucleotide (nt) phasiRNAs with a 5′‐terminal uridine, suggesting a dual role in phasiRNA biogenesis and function. Depletion of AGO1d causes a reduction of 21‐ and 24‐nt phasiRNAs and temperature‐sensitive male sterility. At lower temperatures, anthers of the
ago1d mutant predominantly show excessive tapetal cells with little starch accumulation during pollen formation, possibly caused by the dysregulation of cell metabolism.These results uncover an essential role of AGO1d in rice anther development at lower temperatures and demonstrate coordinative roles of AGO proteins during reproductive phasiRNA biogenesis and function.
-
SUMMARY The anther‐enriched phased, small interfering RNAs (phasiRNAs) play vital roles in sustaining male fertility in grass species. Their long non‐coding precursors are synthesized by RNA polymerase II and are likely regulated by transcription factors (TFs). A few putative transcriptional regulators of the 21‐ or 24‐nucleotide phasiRNA loci (referred to as
21‐ or24‐PHAS loci) have been identified in maize (Zea mays ), but whether any of the individual TFs or TF combinations suffice to activate anyPHAS locus is unclear. Here, we identified the temporal gene coexpression networks (modules) associated with maize anther development, including two modules highly enriched for the21‐ or24‐PHAS loci. Comparisons of these coexpression modules and gene sets dysregulated in several reported male sterile TF mutants provided insights into TF timing with regard to phasiRNA biogenesis, including antagonistic roles for OUTER CELL LAYER4 and MALE STERILE23.Trans ‐activation assays in maize protoplasts of individual TFs using bulk‐protoplast RNA‐sequencing showed that two of the TFs coexpressed with21‐PHAS loci could activate several 21‐nucleotide phasiRNA pathway genes but not transcription of21‐PHAS loci. Screens for combinatorial activities of these TFs and, separately, the recently reported putative transcriptional regulators of24‐PHAS loci using single‐cell (protoplast) RNA‐sequencing, did not detect reproducible activation of either21‐PHAS or24‐PHAS loci. Collectively, our results suggest that the endogenous transcriptional machineries and/or chromatin states in the anthers are necessary to activate reproductivePHAS loci.