Unlocking the Secrets of Amphibious Plant Adaptation: The Role of RNA Modifications

Abstract

Post-transcriptional RNA modifications, such as N6-methyladenosine (m6A), 5-methylcytosine (m5C), and pseudouridine ({Psi}), are critical regulators of plant development, stress responses, and environmental adaptation. The modifications m6A, m5C, and {Psi} were insufficiently studied in plant stress responses. To investigate the epitranscriptomic landscape of these modifications, we employed direct RNA sequencing (DRS) to analyze native RNA from the amphibious plant Riccia fluitans grown in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. Our study revealed the presence of {Psi}, m5C, and m6A modifications in R. fluitans transcriptomes from diverse environments. We observed correlations between the occurrence of these modifications and transcript length, as well as poly(A) tail length. Furthermore, we analyzed the expression of genes encoding {Psi} synthases and methyltransferases to gain initial insights into the regulatory mechanisms underlying these processes in R. fluitans. By understanding how RNA modifications are regulated in response to environmental changes, we can unlock the secrets of the remarkable adaptability of amphibious plants. This knowledge could have eventually led to the understanding of the mechanisms of plant land colonization.