Functional Implications of Active N6-Methyladenosine in Plants

Hongxiang Zheng; Simin Li; Xiansheng Zhang; Na Sui

doi:10.3389/fcell.2020.00291

Functional Implications of Active N⁶-Methyladenosine in Plants

Front Cell Dev Biol. 2020 Apr 29:8:291. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00291. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Hongxiang Zheng¹, Simin Li¹, Xiansheng Zhang², Na Sui¹

Affiliations

¹ Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China.

Abstract

N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is the most common type of eukaryotic mRNA modification and has been found in many organisms, including mammals, and plants. It has important regulatory effects on RNA splicing, export, stability, and translation. The abundance of m⁶A on RNA depends on the dynamic regulation between methyltransferase ("writer") and demethylase ("eraser"), and m⁶A binding protein ("reader") exerts more specific regulatory function by binding m⁶A modification sites on RNA. Progress in research has revealed important functions of m⁶A modification in plants. In this review, we systematically summarize the latest advances in research on the composition and mechanism of action of the m⁶A system in plants. We emphasize the function of m⁶A modification on RNA fate, plant development, and stress resistance. Finally, we discuss the outstanding questions and opportunities exist for future research on m⁶A modification in plant.

Keywords: N6-methyladenosine; RNA function; functional implications; plant; stress response.

Publication types

Review