Epitranscriptomic and expression profiling in Riccia fluitans across diverse environmental conditions

Area of Science:

• Plant biology
• Molecular biology
• Genomics

Background:

• Post-transcriptional RNA modifications regulate crucial plant processes.
• The roles of N6-methyladenosine (m6A), 5-methylcytosine (m5C), and pseudouridine (Ψ) in plant stress responses are not well understood.
• Investigating these modifications offers insights into plant adaptation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the epitranscriptomic landscape of m6A, m5C, and Ψ in the amphibious plant *Riccia fluitans*.
• To analyze how these RNA modifications change in response to aquatic versus terrestrial environments.
• To understand the link between RNA modifications, gene expression, and environmental adaptation.

Main Methods:

• Direct RNA sequencing (DRS) was used to profile native RNA modifications.
• Transcriptome-wide expression profiling was performed.
• Metabolomic profiling analyzed shifts in soluble sugars and metabolic pathways.

Main Results:

• The study detected Ψ, m5C, and m6A modifications in *R. fluitans*.
• Environment-dependent expression profiles and RNA modifications were observed.
• Metabolomic data showed shifts in soluble sugars correlating with starch metabolism gene expression and epitranscriptomic changes.

Conclusions:

• Dynamic regulation of RNA modifications is vital for environmental adaptation in early land plants.
• These findings provide new insights into phenotypic plasticity and the evolution of terrestrial life.
• RNA modifications represent a critical, underappreciated layer of gene regulation in plants facing environmental change.