Epigenetic Modifications of mRNA and DNA in Plants

First author: Zhe Liang; Affiliations: CAAS Biotechnology Research Institute (农科院生物技术研究所): Beijing, China

Corresponding author: Xiaofeng Gu

Advances in the detection and mapping of messenger RNA (mRNA) N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and 5-methylcytosine (m5C) and DNA N6-methyldeoxyadenosine (6mA) redefined our understanding of these modifications as additional tiers of epigenetic regulation. In plants, the most prevalent internal mRNA modifications, m6A and m5C, play crucial and dynamic roles in many processes, including embryo development, stem cell fate determination, trichome branching, leaf morphogenesis, floral transition, stress responses, fruit ripening and root development. The newly identified and widespread epigenetic marker 6mA DNA methylation is associated with gene expression, plant development and stress responses. Here, we review the latest progress in the research on mRNA and DNA epigenetic modifications, including the detection, dynamics, distribution, functions, regulatory proteins and evolution, with a focus on m6A, m5C and 6mA, and discuss future perspectives in plants.

近来，在信使RNA（mRNA）N6-甲基腺苷（m6A）和5-甲基胞嘧啶（m5C）以及DNA N6-甲基脱氧腺苷（6mA）的检测和定位方面取得的成果使得我们对于这些遗传修饰的表观调控的理解更进一步。 在植物中，最普遍的mRNA修饰是m6A和m5C，这两种mRNA修饰在许多生物学过程中起着至关重要的动态作用，包括胚胎发育、干细胞命运决定、毛状体分支、叶片形态发生、成花转变、胁迫响应、果实成熟和根发育。 最近新发现的、并且在植物基因组上广泛分布的DNA表观遗传标记6mA与基因表达、植物发育和胁迫响应有关。 本文中，作者回顾了mRNA和DNA表观遗传修饰研究的最新进展，包括检测、动态、分布、功能、调节蛋白和演化，主要关注了m6A、m5C和6mA三种表观修饰标记，并着重讨论了植物中有关表观研究的未来前景。

通讯：谷晓峰 (http://www.bricaas.cn/rctd/jcrc/151989.htm)

个人简介：2002年，华中农业大学，博士。

研究方向：表观遗传调控植物基因的表达和发育。

doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molp.2019.12.007

Journal: Molecular Plant

Published online: December 19, 2019