The detection of aRNAs and qiRNAs in WT and other mutant lines after UV treatment by Northern blot and RT-qPCR analysis.

<p>(A) The results show an obvious induction of qiRNAs after UV or EMS treatments in WT and some of the mutant lines, but a complete abolishment in both <i>OsRDR1</i> mutant lines. An RNA probe derived from the sense 25S rDNA region was used. The arrow denotes the qiRNAs. The bottom panel of tRNAs shows equal loading control. <i>OsRDR1-1</i>(ND2001), <i>OsRDR1-2</i>(ND2059), <i>OsCMT1</i> (NE7010), <i>OsCMT3</i> (NC4949) and <i>OsSGS3b</i> (NE5050) mutant lines were used (see experimental procedures). (B) The results show a high induction of rDNA specific transcripts after UV treatment in WT and some of mutant lines, but an obvious loss in both <i>OsRDR1</i> mutant lines (ND2001 and ND2059). An RNA probe derived from sense 25S rDNA region was used. The bottom panel of rRNAs shows equal loading control. <i>OsRDR1-1</i>(ND2001), <i>OsRDR1-2</i>(ND2059), <i>OsCMT1</i> (NE7010), <i>OsCMT3</i> (NC4949) and <i>OsSGS3b</i> (NE5050) mutant lines were used (see experimental procedures). (C) The results show an abolishment of aRNAs from the rDNA locus induced by UV treatment in both <i>OsRDR1</i> mutant lines (ND2001 and ND2059). The expressing level of rice ubiquitin gene was used as the internal control. Data are the mean ± SE (n = 3), *P<0.001. <i>OsRDR1-1</i>(ND2001), <i>OsRDR1-2</i>(ND2059), <i>OsCMT1</i> (NE7010), <i>OsCMT3</i> (NC4949) and <i>OsSGS3b</i> (NE5050) mutant lines were used (see experimental procedures).