Detection, regulation, and functions of RNA N6-methyladenosine modification in plants

Abstract

N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant internal chemical modification in eukaryotic mRNA and plays important roles in gene expression regulation, including transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation. m6A is a reversible modification that is installed, removed, and recognized by methyltransferases (writers), demethylases (erasers), and m6A-binding proteins (readers), respectively. Recently, the breadth of research on m6A in plants has expanded, and the vital roles of m6A in plant development, biotic and abiotic stress responses, and crop trait improvement have been investigated. In this review, we discuss recent developments in research on m6A and highlight the detection methods, distribution, regulatory proteins, and molecular and biological functions of m6A in plants. We also offer some perspectives on future investigations, providing direction for subsequent research on m6A in plants.