1
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Cai Z, Tang Q, Song P, Tian E, Yang J, Jia G. The m6A reader ECT8 is an abiotic stress sensor that accelerates mRNA decay in Arabidopsis. THE PLANT CELL 2024:koae149. [PMID: 38835286 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koae149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
N 6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant mRNA modification and plays diverse roles in eukaryotes, including plants. It regulates various processes, including plant growth, development, and responses to external or internal stress responses. However, the mechanisms underlying how m6A is related to environmental stresses in both mammals and plants remain elusive. Here, we identified EVOLUTIONARILY CONSERVED C-TERMINAL REGION 8 (ECT8) as an m6A reader protein and showed that its m6A-binding capability is required for salt stress responses in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). ECT8 accelerates the degradation of its target transcripts through direct interaction with the decapping protein DECAPPING 5 within processing bodies. We observed a significant increase in the ECT8 expression level under various environmental stresses. Using salt stress as a representative stressor, we found that the transcript and protein levels of ECT8 rise in response to salt stress. The increased abundance of ECT8 protein results in the enhanced binding capability to m6A-modified mRNAs, thereby accelerating their degradation, especially those of negative regulators of salt stress responses. Our results demonstrated that ECT8 acts as an abiotic stress sensor, facilitating mRNA decay, which is vital for maintaining transcriptome homeostasis and enhancing stress tolerance in plants. Our findings not only advance the understanding of epitranscriptomic gene regulation but also offer potential applications for breeding more resilient crops in the face of rapidly changing environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihe Cai
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Qian Tang
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Peizhe Song
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Enlin Tian
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Junbo Yang
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Guifang Jia
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Beijing Advanced Center of RNA Biology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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2
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Ramakrishnan M, Rajan KS, Mullasseri S, Ahmad Z, Zhou M, Sharma A, Ramasamy S, Wei Q. Exploring N6-methyladenosine (m 6A) modification in tree species: opportunities and challenges. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2024; 11:uhad284. [PMID: 38371641 PMCID: PMC10871907 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhad284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
N 6-methyladenosine (m6A) in eukaryotes is the most common and widespread internal modification in mRNA. The modification regulates mRNA stability, translation efficiency, and splicing, thereby fine-tuning gene regulation. In plants, m6A is dynamic and critical for various growth stages, embryonic development, morphogenesis, flowering, stress response, crop yield, and biomass. Although recent high-throughput sequencing approaches have enabled the rapid identification of m6A modification sites, the site-specific mechanism of this modification remains unclear in trees. In this review, we discuss the functional significance of m6A in trees under different stress conditions and discuss recent advancements in the quantification of m6A. Quantitative and functional insights into the dynamic aspect of m6A modification could assist researchers in engineering tree crops for better productivity and resistance to various stress conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muthusamy Ramakrishnan
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Bamboo Research Institute, Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, Jiangsu, China
| | - K Shanmugha Rajan
- Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Sileesh Mullasseri
- Department of Zoology, St. Albert’s College (Autonomous), Kochi 682018, Kerala, India
| | - Zishan Ahmad
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Bamboo Research Institute, Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mingbing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Bamboo Industry Institute, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin’an, Hangzhou 311300, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Bamboo Resources and High-Efficiency Utilization, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin’an, Hangzhou 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Anket Sharma
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Bamboo Industry Institute, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin’an, Hangzhou 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Subbiah Ramasamy
- Cardiac Metabolic Disease Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai 625 021, Tamilnadu, India
| | - Qiang Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Bamboo Research Institute, Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, Jiangsu, China
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3
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Yue J, Lu Y, Sun Z, Guo Y, San León D, Pasin F, Zhao M. Methyltransferase-like (METTL) homologues participate in Nicotiana benthamiana antiviral responses. PLANT SIGNALING & BEHAVIOR 2023; 18:2214760. [PMID: 37210738 DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2023.2214760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Methyltransferase (MTase) enzymes catalyze the addition of a methyl group to a variety of biological substrates. MTase-like (METTL) proteins are Class I MTases whose enzymatic activities contribute to the epigenetic and epitranscriptomic regulation of multiple cellular processes. N6-adenosine methylation (m6A) is a common chemical modification of eukaryotic and viral RNA whose abundance is jointly regulated by MTases and METTLs, demethylases, and m6A binding proteins. m6A affects various cellular processes including RNA degradation, post-transcriptional processing, and antiviral immunity. Here, we used Nicotiana benthamiana and plum pox virus (PPV), an RNA virus of the Potyviridae family, to investigated the roles of MTases in plant-virus interaction. RNA sequencing analysis identified MTase transcripts that are differentially expressed during PPV infection; among these, accumulation of a METTL gene was significantly downregulated. Two N. benthamiana METTL transcripts (NbMETTL1 and NbMETTL2) were cloned and further characterized. Sequence and structural analyses of the two encoded proteins identified a conserved S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) binding domain, showing they are SAM-dependent MTases phylogenetically related to human METTL16 and Arabidopsis thaliana FIONA1. Overexpression of NbMETTL1 and NbMETTL2 caused a decrease of PPV accumulation. In sum, our results indicate that METTL homologues participate in plant antiviral responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianying Yue
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Yan Lu
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Zhenqi Sun
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Yuqing Guo
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - David San León
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Fabio Pasin
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Universitat Politècnica de València (CSIC-UPV), Valencia, Spain
| | - Mingmin Zhao
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
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4
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Fan W, Wang L, Lei Z, Li H, Chu J, Yan M, Wang Y, Wang H, Yang J, Cho J. m 6A RNA demethylase AtALKBH9B promotes mobilization of a heat-activated long terminal repeat retrotransposon in Arabidopsis. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf3292. [PMID: 38019921 PMCID: PMC10686560 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf3292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Transposons are mobile and ubiquitous DNA molecules that can cause vast genomic alterations. In plants, it is well documented that transposon mobilization is strongly repressed by DNA methylation; however, its regulation at the posttranscriptional level remains relatively uninvestigated. Here, we suggest that transposon RNA is marked by m6A RNA methylation and can be localized in stress granules (SGs). Intriguingly, SG-localized AtALKBH9B selectively demethylates a heat-activated retroelement, Onsen, and thereby releases it from spatial confinement, allowing for its mobilization. In addition, we show evidence that m6A RNA methylation contributes to transpositional suppression by inhibiting virus-like particle assembly and extrachromosomal DNA production. In summary, this study unveils a previously unknown role for m6A in the suppression of transposon mobility and provides insight into how transposons counteract the m6A-mediated repression mechanism by hitchhiking the RNA demethylase of the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwen Fan
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ling Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhen Lei
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hui Li
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jie Chu
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Mengxiao Yan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai 201602, China
| | - Yuqin Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai 201602, China
| | - Hongxia Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai 201602, China
| | - Jun Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai 201602, China
| | - Jungnam Cho
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- CAS-JIC Centre for Excellence in Plant and Microbial Science, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
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5
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Dhingra Y, Gupta S, Gupta V, Agarwal M, Katiyar-Agarwal S. The emerging role of epitranscriptome in shaping stress responses in plants. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2023; 42:1531-1555. [PMID: 37481775 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-023-03046-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE RNA modifications and editing changes constitute 'epitranscriptome' and are crucial in regulating the development and stress response in plants. Exploration of the epitranscriptome and associated machinery would facilitate the engineering of stress tolerance in crops. RNA editing and modifications post-transcriptionally decorate almost all classes of cellular RNAs, including tRNAs, rRNAs, snRNAs, lncRNAs and mRNAs, with more than 170 known modifications, among which m6A, Ψ, m5C, 8-OHG and C-to-U editing are the most abundant. Together, these modifications constitute the "epitranscriptome", and contribute to changes in several RNA attributes, thus providing an additional structural and functional diversification to the "cellular messages" and adding another layer of gene regulation in organisms, including plants. Numerous evidences suggest that RNA modifications have a widespread impact on plant development as well as in regulating the response of plants to abiotic and biotic stresses. High-throughput sequencing studies demonstrate that the landscapes of m6A, m5C, Am, Cm, C-to-U, U-to-G, and A-to-I editing are remarkably dynamic during stress conditions in plants. GO analysis of transcripts enriched in Ψ, m6A and m5C modifications have identified bonafide components of stress regulatory pathways. Furthermore, significant alterations in the expression pattern of genes encoding writers, readers, and erasers of certain modifications have been documented when plants are grown in challenging environments. Notably, manipulating the expression levels of a few components of RNA editing machinery markedly influenced the stress tolerance in plants. We provide updated information on the current understanding on the contribution of RNA modifications in shaping the stress responses in plants. Unraveling of the epitranscriptome has opened new avenues for designing crops with enhanced productivity and stress resilience in view of global climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashika Dhingra
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Shitij Gupta
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi, 110021, India
- Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Vaishali Gupta
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Manu Agarwal
- Department of Botany, University of Delhi North Campus, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Surekha Katiyar-Agarwal
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, New Delhi, 110021, India.
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6
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Martínez‐Pérez M, Aparicio F, Arribas‐Hernández L, Tankmar MD, Rennie S, von Bülow S, Lindorff‐Larsen K, Brodersen P, Pallas V. Plant YTHDF proteins are direct effectors of antiviral immunity against an N6-methyladenosine-containing RNA virus. EMBO J 2023; 42:e113378. [PMID: 37431920 PMCID: PMC10505913 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022113378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
In virus-host interactions, nucleic acid-directed first lines of defense that allow viral clearance without compromising growth are of paramount importance. Plants use the RNA interference pathway as a basal antiviral immune system, but additional RNA-based mechanisms of defense also exist. The infectivity of a plant positive-strand RNA virus, alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV), relies on the demethylation of viral RNA by the recruitment of the cellular N6-methyladenosine (m6 A) demethylase ALKBH9B, but how demethylation of viral RNA promotes AMV infection remains unknown. Here, we show that inactivation of the Arabidopsis cytoplasmic YT521-B homology domain (YTH)-containing m6 A-binding proteins ECT2, ECT3, and ECT5 is sufficient to restore AMV infectivity in partially resistant alkbh9b mutants. We further show that the antiviral function of ECT2 is distinct from its previously demonstrated function in the promotion of primordial cell proliferation: an ect2 mutant carrying a small deletion in its intrinsically disordered region is partially compromised for antiviral defense but not for developmental functions. These results indicate that the m6 A-YTHDF axis constitutes a novel branch of basal antiviral immunity in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireya Martínez‐Pérez
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasUniversitat Politècnica de ValènciaValenciaSpain
| | - Frederic Aparicio
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasUniversitat Politècnica de ValènciaValenciaSpain
| | | | | | - Sarah Rennie
- Department of BiologyUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Sören von Bülow
- Department of BiologyUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | | | - Peter Brodersen
- Department of BiologyUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Vicente Pallas
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasUniversitat Politècnica de ValènciaValenciaSpain
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7
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Tang J, Yang J, Lu Q, Tang Q, Chen S, Jia G. The RNA N 6 -methyladenosine demethylase ALKBH9B modulates ABA responses in Arabidopsis. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 64:2361-2373. [PMID: 36263999 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The mRNA modification N6 -methyladenosine (m6 A) plays vital roles in plant development and biotic and abiotic stress responses. The RNA m6 A demethylase ALKBH9B can remove m6 A in alfalfa mosaic virus RNA and plays roles in alfalfa mosaic virus infection in Arabidopsis. However, it is unknown whether ALKBH9B also exhibits demethylation activity and has a biological role in endogenous plant mRNA. We demonstrated here that mRNA m6 A modification is induced by the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) and that ALKBH9B has m6 A demethylation activity on endogenous mRNA. Knocking out ALKBH9B led to hypersensitivity to ABA treatment during seed germination and early seedling development. We further showed that ALKBH9B removes the m6 A modification in the ABA INSENSITIVE 1 (ABI1) and BRI1-EMS-SUPPRESSOR 1 (BES1) transcripts following ABA treatment, affecting the stability of these mRNAs. Furthermore, we determined that ALKBH9B acts genetically upstream of the transcription factors ABI3 and ABI5, and its regulatory function in ABA responses depended on ABI3 and ABI5. Our findings reveal the important roles of the m6 A modification in ABA responses and highlight the role of ALKBH9B-mediated m6 A demethylation in regulating ABA responses post-transcriptionally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Tang
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Junbo Yang
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Qiang Lu
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Qian Tang
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Shuyan Chen
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Guifang Jia
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, 100871, China
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8
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Hu J, Cai J, Xu T, Kang H. Epitranscriptomic mRNA modifications governing plant stress responses: underlying mechanism and potential application. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2022; 20:2245-2257. [PMID: 36002976 PMCID: PMC9674322 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Plants inevitably encounter environmental adversities, including abiotic and biotic stresses, which significantly impede plant growth and reduce crop yield. Thus, fine-tuning the fate and function of stress-responsive RNAs is indispensable for plant survival under such adverse conditions. Recently, post-transcriptional RNA modifications have been studied as a potent route to regulate plant gene expression under stress. Among over 160 mRNA modifications identified to date, N6 -methyladenosine (m6 A) in mRNAs is notable because of its multifaceted roles in plant development and stress response. Recent transcriptome-wide mapping has revealed the distribution and patterns of m6 A in diverse stress-responsive mRNAs in plants, building a foundation for elucidating the molecular link between m6 A and stress response. Moreover, the identification and characterization of m6 A writers, readers and erasers in Arabidopsis and other model crops have offered insights into the biological roles of m6 A in plant abiotic stress responses. Here, we review the recent progress of research on mRNA modifications, particularly m6 A, and their dynamics, distribution, regulation and biological functions in plant stress responses. Further, we posit potential strategies for breeding stress-tolerant crops by engineering mRNA modifications and propose the future direction of research on RNA modifications to gain a much deeper understanding of plant stress biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianzhong Hu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Phylogenomics and Comparative Genomics, School of Life SciencesJiangsu Normal UniversityXuzhouJiangsu ProvinceChina
- Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture and Life SciencesChonnam National UniversityGwangjuKorea
| | - Jing Cai
- Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture and Life SciencesChonnam National UniversityGwangjuKorea
| | - Tao Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Phylogenomics and Comparative Genomics, School of Life SciencesJiangsu Normal UniversityXuzhouJiangsu ProvinceChina
| | - Hunseung Kang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Phylogenomics and Comparative Genomics, School of Life SciencesJiangsu Normal UniversityXuzhouJiangsu ProvinceChina
- Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture and Life SciencesChonnam National UniversityGwangjuKorea
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9
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Yue J, Wei Y, Sun Z, Chen Y, Wei X, Wang H, Pasin F, Zhao M. AlkB RNA demethylase homologues and N 6 -methyladenosine are involved in Potyvirus infection. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2022; 23:1555-1564. [PMID: 35700092 PMCID: PMC9452765 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Proteins of the alkylation B (AlkB) superfamily show RNA demethylase activity removing methyl adducts from N6 -methyladenosine (m6 A). m6 A is a reversible epigenetic mark of RNA that regulates human virus replication but has unclear roles in plant virus infection. We focused on Potyvirus-the largest genus of plant RNA viruses-and report here the identification of AlkB domains within P1 of endive necrotic mosaic virus (ENMV) and an additional virus of a putative novel species within Potyvirus. We show that Nicotiana benthamiana m6 A levels are reduced by infection of plum pox virus (PPV) and potato virus Y (PVY). The two potyviruses lack AlkB and the results suggest a general involvement of RNA methylation in potyvirus infection and evolution. Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing of virus-infected samples showed that m6 A peaks are enriched in plant transcript 3' untranslated regions and in discrete internal and 3' terminal regions of PPV and PVY genomes. Down-regulation of N. benthamiana AlkB homologues of the plant-specific ALKBH9 clade caused a significant decrease in PPV and PVY accumulation. In summary, our study provides evolutionary and experimental evidence that supports the m6 A implication and the proviral roles of AlkB homologues in Potyvirus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianying Yue
- College of Horticulture and Plant ProtectionInner Mongolia Agricultural UniversityHohhotChina
| | - Yao Wei
- College of Horticulture and Plant ProtectionInner Mongolia Agricultural UniversityHohhotChina
| | - Zhenqi Sun
- College of Horticulture and Plant ProtectionInner Mongolia Agricultural UniversityHohhotChina
| | - Yahan Chen
- College of Plant ProtectionGansu Agricultural UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Xuefeng Wei
- Development of Fine ChemicalsGuizhou UniversityGuizhouChina
| | - Haijuan Wang
- College of Horticulture and Plant ProtectionInner Mongolia Agricultural UniversityHohhotChina
| | - Fabio Pasin
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP)Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas—Universitat Politècnica de València (CSIC‐UPV)ValenciaSpain
- School of ScienceUniversity of PaduaPaduaItaly
| | - Mingmin Zhao
- College of Horticulture and Plant ProtectionInner Mongolia Agricultural UniversityHohhotChina
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10
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Han X, Shi Q, He Z, Song W, Chen Q, Qi Z. Transcriptome-wide N 6-methyladenosine (m 6A) methylation in soybean under Meloidogyne incognita infection. ABIOTECH 2022; 3:197-211. [PMID: 36313932 PMCID: PMC9590533 DOI: 10.1007/s42994-022-00077-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a reversible epigenetic modification of mRNA and other RNAs that plays a significant role in regulating gene expression and biological processes. However, m6A abundance, dynamics, and transcriptional regulatory mechanisms remain unexplored in the context of soybean resistance to Meloidogyne incognita. In this study, we performed a comparative analysis of transcriptome-wide m6A and metabolome profiles of soybean root tissues with and without M. incognita infection. Global m6A hypermethylation was widely induced in response to M. incognita infection and was enriched around the 3' end of coding sequences and in 3' UTR regions. There were 2069 significantly modified m6A sites, 594 differentially expressed genes, and 103 differentially accumulated metabolites between infected and uninfected roots, including coumestrol, psoralidin, and 2-hydroxyethylphosphonate. Among 101 m6A-modified DEGs, 34 genes were hypomethylated and upregulated, and 39 genes were hypermethylated and downregulated, indicating a highly negative correlation between m6A methylation and gene transcript abundance. A number of these m6A-modified DEGs, including WRKY70, ERF60, POD47 and LRR receptor-like serine/threonine-protein kinases, were involved in plant defense responses. Our study provides new insights into the critical role of m6A modification in early soybean responses to M. incognita. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42994-022-00077-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Han
- College of Agriculture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030 China
| | - Qianqian Shi
- College of Agriculture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030 China
- Shandong Engineering Research Center for Environment-Friendly Agricultural Pest Management, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109 China
| | - Ziyi He
- Shandong Engineering Research Center for Environment-Friendly Agricultural Pest Management, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109 China
| | - Wenwen Song
- Shandong Engineering Research Center for Environment-Friendly Agricultural Pest Management, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109 China
| | - Qingshan Chen
- College of Agriculture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030 China
| | - Zhaoming Qi
- College of Agriculture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030 China
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11
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Impact of the Potential m6A Modification Sites at the 3′UTR of Alfalfa Mosaic Virus RNA3 in the Viral Infection. Viruses 2022; 14:v14081718. [PMID: 36016339 PMCID: PMC9414508 DOI: 10.3390/v14081718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
We have previously reported the presence of m6A in the AMV (Alfamovirus, Bromoviridae) genome. Interestingly, two of these putative m6A-sites are in hairpin (hp) structures in the 3’UTR of the viral RNA3. One site (2012AAACU2016) is in the loop of hpB, within the coat protein binding site 1 (CPB1), while the other (1900UGACC1904) is in the lower stem of hpE, a loop previously associated with AMV negative-strand RNA synthesis. In this work, we have performed in vivo experiments to assess the role of these two regions, containing the putative m6A-sites in the AMV cycle, by introducing compensatory point mutations to interfere with or abolish the m6A-tag of these sites. Our results suggest that the loop of hpB could be involved in viral replication/accumulation. Meanwhile, in the 1900UGACC1904 motif of the hpE, the maintenance of the adenosine residue and the lower stem hpE structure are necessary for in vivo plus-strand accumulation. These results extend our understanding of the requirements for hpE in the AMV infection cycle, indicating that both the residue identity and the base-pairing capacity in this structure are essential for viral accumulation.
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12
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Alvarado-Marchena L, Martínez-Pérez M, Aparicio F, Pallas V, Maumus F. Recent Acquisition of Functional m6A RNA Demethylase Domain in Orchid Ty3/Gypsy Elements. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:939843. [PMID: 35860540 PMCID: PMC9289625 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.939843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Long terminal repeats (LTR) retrotransposons are transposable elements (TEs) representing major components of most plant genomes. The fixation of additional conserved protein domains in their genomes is considered a rare event in the course of their evolution. Such changes can bring novel functions and increase their fitness by playing a role in the regulation of their replicative cycle or by affecting their integration landscape so that the detection of new domains can in turn reveal important aspects of host-TE interactions. We have mined angiosperm genomes for the presence of additional domains in LTR retrotransposons. We report a lineage of large (25 kbp) Gypsy-type elements in the genomes of Phalaenopsis orchids that contain an additional open reading frame containing a 2-ODD domain with close similarity to those responsible for m6A RNA demethylase activity in AlkB proteins. By performing in vitro assays, we demonstrate the RNA binding capability and the demethylase activity of the Gypsy-encoded AlkB protein, suggesting it could be functional against cognate TE mRNA or any cellular RNA in planta. In line with recent literature, we propose that the fixation of an RNA demethylase in this lineage of LTR retrotransposons may reflect an important role for epitranscriptomic control in host surveillance against TEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Alvarado-Marchena
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universitat Politècnica de València, Ingeniero Fausto Elio, Spain
| | - Mireya Martínez-Pérez
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universitat Politècnica de València, Ingeniero Fausto Elio, Spain
| | - Frederic Aparicio
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universitat Politècnica de València, Ingeniero Fausto Elio, Spain
| | - Vicente Pallas
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universitat Politècnica de València, Ingeniero Fausto Elio, Spain
| | - Florian Maumus
- INRAE, URGI, Université Paris-Saclay, Versailles, France
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13
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Yue J, Wei Y, Zhao M. The Reversible Methylation of m6A Is Involved in Plant Virus Infection. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11020271. [PMID: 35205137 PMCID: PMC8869485 DOI: 10.3390/biology11020271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent modification in the mRNAs of many eukaryotic species. The abundance and effects of m6A are determined by dynamic interactions between its methyltransferases (“writers”), demethylases (“erasers”), and binding proteins (“readers”). It has been indicated that there is a strong correlation between m6A and virus infection in mammals. In the case of plant virus infection, it appears that m6A plays a dual role. On the one hand, m6A acts as a plant immune response induced by virus infection, inhibiting viral replication or translation through methylation of viral genome RNAs. On the other hand, m6A acts as part of an infection strategy employed by plant viruses to overcome the host immune system by interacting with m6A-related proteins. We proposed that antagonists of m6A-related proteins might be used to design new strategies for plant virus control in the future. Abstract In recent years, m6A RNA methylation has attracted broad interest and is becoming a hot research topic. It has been demonstrated that there is a strong association between m6A and viral infection in the human system. The life cycles of plant RNA viruses are often coordinated with the mechanisms of their RNA modification. Here, we reviewed recent advances in m6A methylation in plant viruses. It appears that m6A methylation plays a dual role during viral infection in plants. On the one hand, m6A methylation acts as an antiviral immune response induced by virus infection, which inhibits viral replication or translation through the methylation of viral genome RNAs. On the other hand, plant viruses could disrupt the m6A methylation through interacting with the key proteins of the m6A pathway to avoid modification. Those plant viruses containing ALKB domain are discussed as well. Based on this mechanism, we propose that new strategies for plant virus control could be designed with competitive antagonists of m6A-associated proteins.
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14
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Pasin F, Daròs JA, Tzanetakis IE. OUP accepted manuscript. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2022; 46:6534904. [PMID: 35195244 PMCID: PMC9249622 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuac011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Potyviridae, the largest family of known RNA viruses (realm Riboviria), belongs to the picorna-like supergroup and has important agricultural and ecological impacts. Potyvirid genomes are translated into polyproteins, which are in turn hydrolyzed to release mature products. Recent sequencing efforts revealed an unprecedented number of potyvirids with a rich variability in gene content and genomic layouts. Here, we review the heterogeneity of non-core modules that expand the structural and functional diversity of the potyvirid proteomes. We provide a family-wide classification of P1 proteinases into the functional Types A and B, and discuss pretty interesting sweet potato potyviral ORF (PISPO), putative zinc fingers, and alkylation B (AlkB)—non-core modules found within P1 cistrons. The atypical inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase (ITPase/HAM1), as well as the pseudo tobacco mosaic virus-like coat protein (TMV-like CP) are discussed alongside homologs of unrelated virus taxa. Family-wide abundance of the multitasking helper component proteinase (HC-pro) is revised. Functional connections between non-core modules are highlighted to support host niche adaptation and immune evasion as main drivers of the Potyviridae evolutionary radiation. Potential biotechnological and synthetic biology applications of potyvirid leader proteinases and non-core modules are finally explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Pasin
- Corresponding author: Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universitat Politècnica de València (CSIC-UPV), UPV Building 8E, Ingeniero Fausto Elio, 46011 Valencia, Spain. E-mail:
| | - José-Antonio Daròs
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universitat Politècnica de València (CSIC-UPV), 46011 Valencia, Spain
| | - Ioannis E Tzanetakis
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas System, 72701 Fayetteville, AR, USA
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