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Updated: Oct 10, 2025
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A Method for Measuring RNA N6-methyladenosine Modifications in Cells and Tissues
Published on: December 5, 2016
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The evolution of N6-methyladenosine regulators in plants
Meng Wu1, Fulei Nie1, Haibin Liu1
1School of Life Sciences, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063000, China.
Methods (San Diego, Calif.)
|December 9, 2021
Summary
This study reveals the evolutionary history of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) regulators across 65 plant species. It shows conserved functions but unique structures and relaxed selection in higher plants, suggesting novel roles.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Plant Science
Background:
- N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a crucial reversible RNA modification involved in numerous biological processes.
- While m6A regulators (writers, erasers, readers) are known, their evolutionary trajectories remain poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically investigate the evolutionary patterns of m6A modification regulators in plants.
- To analyze phylogenetic relationships, sequence structure, selection pressure, and codon usage of these regulators across diverse species.
Main Methods:
- Identification of 1592 m6A regulators from 65 representative plant species.
- Phylogenetic analysis to discern evolutionary relationships.
- Comparative analysis of gene structure, motif organization, selection pressure, and codon usage.
Main Results:
- Phylogenetic trees distinguished regulators from different species and subfamilies.
- Conserved gene structures were observed within regulator types, yet unique exon/intron and motif organizations existed across families.
- Regulators primarily underwent purifying selection, with more relaxed pressure in higher plants, suggesting potential functional innovation.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a comprehensive evolutionary framework for m6A regulators in plants.
- Evolutionary divergence in m6A regulators, particularly in higher plants, may contribute to functional diversification.
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