Deciphering the epitranscriptome： A green perspective

• Published in: Journal of integrative plant biology 2016-10, Vol.58 (10), p.822-835
• Main Authors: Burgess, Alice, David, Rakesh, Searle, Iain Robert
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 5-Methylcytosine - metabolism; 5-甲基胞嘧啶; Adenosine - analogs & derivatives; Adenosine - metabolism; Arabidopsis; Arabidopsis - genetics; Arabidopsis - metabolism; epitranscriptome; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Invited Expert Review; N6-methyladenosine (m6A); Pseudouridine (Ψ); Pseudouridine - metabolism; RNA 5-methylcytosine (m5C); RNA modifications; RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional - genetics; Transcriptome - genetics; 基因调控; 应激反应; 核糖体RNA; 植物生长发育; 测序技术; 破译; 转移RNA
• ISSN: 1672-9072; 1744-7909
• DOI: 10.1111/jipb.12483

The advent of high-throughput sequencing technol- ogies coupled with new detection methods of RNA modifica- tions has enabled investigation of a new layer of gene regulation - the epitranscriptome. With over loo known RNA modifications, understanding the repertoire of RNA modifications is a huge undertaking. This review summarizes what is known about RNA modifications with an emphasis on discoveries in plants. RNA ribose modifications, base methyl- ations and pseudouridylation are required for normal develop- ment in Arabidopsis, as mutations in the enzymes modifying them have diverse effects on plant development and stress responses. These modifications can regulate RNA structure, turnover and translation. Transfer RNA and ribosomal RNA modifications have been mapped extensively and their functions investigated in many organisms, including plants. Recent work exploring the locations, functions and targeting of N6-methyladenosine （m^6A）, 5-methylcytosine （m^5C）, pseudour- idine （up）, and additional modifications in mRNAs and ncRNAs are highlighted, as well as those previously known on tRNAs and rRNAs. Many questions remain as to the exact mechanisms of targeting and functions of specific modified sites and whether these modifications have distinct functions in the different classes of RNAs.