Unique features of the m6A methylome in Arabidopsis thaliana

Nat Commun. 2014 Nov 28:5:5630. doi: 10.1038/ncomms6630.

Abstract

Recent discoveries of reversible N(6)-methyladenosine (m(6)A) methylation on messenger RNA (mRNA) and mapping of m(6)A methylomes in mammals and yeast have revealed potential regulatory functions of this RNA modification. In plants, defects in m(6)A methyltransferase cause an embryo-lethal phenotype, suggesting a critical role of m(6)A in plant development. Here, we profile m(6)A transcriptome-wide in two accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana and reveal that m(6)A is a highly conserved modification of mRNA in plants. Distinct from mammals, m(6)A in A. thaliana is enriched not only around the stop codon and within 3'-untranslated regions, but also around the start codon. Gene ontology analysis indicates that the unique distribution pattern of m(6)A in A. thaliana is associated with plant-specific pathways involving the chloroplast. We also discover a positive correlation between m(6)A deposition and mRNA abundance, suggesting a regulatory role of m(6)A in plant gene expression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Adenosine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Adenosine / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis*
  • Codon, Initiator / metabolism
  • Codon, Terminator / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant*
  • Methyltransferases / genetics
  • Methyltransferases / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism*

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Codon, Initiator
  • Codon, Terminator
  • RNA, Messenger
  • N-methyladenosine
  • 6-methyladenine mRNA methyltransferase
  • Methyltransferases
  • Adenosine

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE59154