MRNA ADENOSINE METHYLASE promotes drought tolerance through N⁶-methyladenosine-dependent and independent impacts on mRNA regulation in Arabidopsis.

ABSTRACT: Among many mRNA modifications, adenine methylation at the N⁶ position (N⁶-methyladenosine, m⁶A) is known to affect mRNA biology extensively. The influence of m⁶A has yet to be assessed under drought, one of the most impactful abiotic stresses. We show that Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. (Arabidopsis) plants lacking mRNA ADENOSINE METHYLASE (MTA) are drought-sensitive. Subsequently, we comprehensively assess the impacts of MTA-dependent m⁶A changes during drought on mRNA abundance, stability, and translation in Arabidopsis. During drought, there is a global trend toward hypermethylation of many protein-coding transcripts that does not occur in mta. We also observe complex regulation of m⁶A at a transcript-specific level, po

SUBMITTER: Ganguly DR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11617654 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature