植物m6A甲基转移酶的功能研究

In plant epitranscriptomics, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification represents the most prevalent and well-characterized post-transcriptional epigenetic modification on mRNA. m6A modification mainly regulates the growth and developmental processes in plants from seed germination to senescence and death. m6A modification is dynamic and reversible, mediated by three functional components: methyltransferases (Writers) that catalyze the addition of m6A modifications to adenosine residues on mRNA; reading proteins (Readers) that specifically bind m6A-modified bases to activate downstream regulatory pathways; and demethylases (Erasers) that remove methyl groups from m6A-modified nucleotides. Based on recent advances in m6A research in plants, this paper reviews the identified members of m6A methyltransferases and their critical roles in plant growth and development, and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. This may provide a theoretical foundation for future research on m6A methyltransferases in plant systems, offering valuable insights for advancing related studies in plant epigenetics.