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Abstract The liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) of Tau has been postulated to play a role in modulating the aggregation property of Tau, a process known to be critically associated with the pathology of a broad range of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's Disease. Taucan undergo LLPS by homotypic interaction through self‐coacervation (SC) or by heterotypic association through complex‐coacervation (CC) between Tau and binding partners such as RNA. What is unclear is in what way the formation mechanisms for self and complex coacervation of Tau are similar or different, and the addition of a binding partner to Tau alters the properties of LLPS and Tau. A combination ofin vitroexperimental and computational study reveals that the primary driving force for both Tau CC and SC is electrostatic interactions between Tau‐RNA or Tau‐Tau macromolecules. The liquid condensates formed by the complex coacervation of Tau and RNA have distinctly higher micro‐viscosity and greater thermal stability than that formed by the SC of Tau. Our study shows that subtle changes in solution conditions, including molecular crowding and the presence of binding partners, can lead to the formation of different types of Tau condensates with distinct micro‐viscosity that can coexist as persistent and immiscible entities in solution. We speculate that the formation, rheological properties and stability of Tau droplets can be readily tuned by cellular factors, and that liquid condensation of Tau can alter the conformational equilibrium of Tau. 

Summary In grasses, two types of phased, small interfering RNAs (phasiRNAs) are expressed largely in young, developing anthers. They are 21 or 24 nucleotides (nt) in length and are triggered by miR2118 or miR2275, respectively. However, most of their functions and activities are not fully understood.We performed comparative genomic analysis of their source loci (PHAS) in fiveOryzagenomes and combined this with analysis of high‐throughput sRNA and degradome datasets. In total, we identified 8216 21‐PHASand 626 24‐PHASloci. Local tandem and segmental duplications mainly contributed to the expansion and supercluster distribution of the 21‐PHASloci. Despite their relatively conserved genomic positions,PHASsequences diverged rapidly, except for the miR2118/2275 target sites, which were under strong selection for conservation.We found that 21‐nt phasiRNAs with a 5′‐terminal uridine (U) demonstratedcis‐cleavage atPHASprecursors, and thesecis‐acting sites were also variable among close species. miR2118 could trigger phasiRNA production from its own antisense transcript and the derived phasiRNAs might reversibly regulate miR2118 precursors.We hypothesised that successful initiation of phasiRNA biogenesis is conservatively maintained, while phasiRNA products diverged quickly and are not individually conserved. In particular, phasiRNA production is under the control of multiple reciprocal regulation mechanisms.