This review, led by Prof. Bochen Jiang at the School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, provides a comprehensive review of the regulatory mechanisms and biological functions of RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications in plants. RNA modifications represent a critical layer of post-transcriptional gene regulation that is widely conserved across eukaryotes. Among them, m6A is the most prevalent internal modification in eukaryotic messenger RNAs (mRNAs), with key roles in regulating diverse aspects of RNA metabolism, including transcription, splicing, translation, and degradation. In plants, dynamic m6A modification, coordinated by methyltransferases (writers), demethylases (erasers), and m6A-binding proteins (readers), has been increasingly associated with crucial biological processes such as growth and development, flowering, and responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses. These findings collectively demonstrate that m6A modifications are tightly linked to agronomic traits including crop yield, flowering time, fruit ripening, flavor quality, stress tolerance, and developmental transitions. For instance, in rice, m6A methylation orchestrates key reproductive processes, including early microsporogenesis, pollen development, and flowering time regulation through the coordinated actions of OsMTA2, OsFIP37, and OsYTH07; in tomato, m6A-mediated regulation of fruit ripening and aroma formation, mediated by SlALKBH2 and SlYTH2, directly impacts fruit ripening and flavor.
Recently, several emerging biotechnological strategies have been explored as potential tools to manipulate m6A modifications for crop improvement. These include genetic engineering approaches such as overexpression of human FTO (an m6A demethylase), CRISPR/Cas13-mediated targeted m6A editing, small-molecule-mediated modulation of m6A regulators. Additionally, integrative multi-omics approaches combining high-throughput m6A profiling with machine learning have been developed to dissect key regulatory networks. These strategies offer a conceptual framework for advancing m6A-based precision breeding technologies to enhance crop yield, stress resilience, and quality traits.
In summary, this study provides an up-to-date and systematic overview of the regulatory landscape and biological roles of m6A in plants, offering new insights and technical avenues for improving crop performance through epitranscriptomic interventions.
See the article:
Molecular mechanisms and crop improvement potential of RNA N6-methyladenosine in plants
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42994-025-00228-1
