%AZhou, Xue [Department of Biology Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA]%AHuang, Kun [Department of Plant and Soil Sciences University of Delaware Newark DE 19716 USA, Delaware Biotechnology Institute University of Delaware Newark DE 19716 USA, Dana‐Farber Cancer Institute Molecular Imaging Core 360 Longwood Ave Boston MA 02215 USA]%ATeng, Chong [Donald Danforth Plant Science Center St Louis MO 63132 USA]%AAbdelgawad, Ahmed [Department of Biological Sciences University of Delaware Newark DE 19716 USA]%ABatish, Mona [Department of Biological Sciences University of Delaware Newark DE 19716 USA, Department of Medical and Molecular Sciences University of Delaware Newark DE 19716 USA]%AMeyers, Blake [Donald Danforth Plant Science Center St Louis MO 63132 USA, Division of Plant Sciences University of Missouri – Columbia Columbia MO 65211 USA]%AWalbot, Virginia [Department of Biology Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA]%BJournal Name: New Phytologist; Journal Volume: 235; Journal Issue: 2; Related Information: CHORUS Timestamp: 2023-08-23 14:21:48 %D2022%IWiley-Blackwell %JJournal Name: New Phytologist; Journal Volume: 235; Journal Issue: 2; Related Information: CHORUS Timestamp: 2023-08-23 14:21:48 %K %MOSTI ID: 10368206 %PMedium: X %T24‐nt phasiRNAs move from tapetal to meiotic cells in maize anthers %XSummary

In maize, 24‐nt phased, secondary small interfering RNAs (phasiRNAs) are abundant in meiotic stage anthers, but their distribution and functions are not precisely known.

Using laser capture microdissection, we analyzed tapetal cells, meiocytes and other somatic cells at several stages of anther development to establish the timing of 24‐PHASprecursor transcripts and the 24‐nt phasiRNA products.

By integrating RNA and small RNA profiling plus single‐molecule and small RNA FISH (smFISH or sRNA‐FISH) spatial detection, we demonstrate that the tapetum is the primary site of 24‐PHASprecursor andDcl5transcripts and the resulting 24‐nt phasiRNAs. Interestingly, 24‐nt phasiRNAs accumulate in all cell types, with the highest levels in meiocytes, followed by tapetum.

Our data support the conclusion that 24‐nt phasiRNAs are mobile from tapetum to meiocytes and to other somatic cells. We discuss possible roles for 24‐nt phasiRNAs in anther cell types.

%0Journal Article