Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 28, 2026

A Flexible Low Cost Hydroponic System for Assessing Plant Responses to Small Molecules in Sterile Conditions
Published on: August 25, 2018
m6A Demethylation in Chloroplasts Enhances Stress Tolerance by Modulating the Stability of Photosynthesis-Associated
Rongpeng Han1, Jianzhong Hu2, Yasira Shoaib1
1Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea.
Abstract:
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent epitranscriptomic modification found in eukaryotic mRNA. The levels of m6A are determined by the coordinated actions of methyltransferases ('writers') and demethylases ('erasers') that introduce and remove m6A marks, respectively. Recent studies have demonstrated that chloroplast mRNAs are highly rich in m6A; however, the significance of m6A methylation in chloroplasts remains unknown. As no mRNA m6A writers and erasers have been identified in chloroplasts, in this study, we artificially imported ALKBH10B, a well-characterised mRNA m6A eraser localised in the nucleus and cytoplasm in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), into chloroplasts to uncover the potential impact of m6A modification in chloroplasts on photosynthesis and abiotic stress response. We found that the chloroplast-targeted ALKBH10B successfully removes m6A marks from numerous mRNAs in chloroplasts. Notably, the ALKBH10B-mediated demethylation f m6A marks in chloroplast mRNAs enhanced salt and drought tolerance in Arabidopsis by modulating the stability of m6A-modified photosynthesis-associated mRNAs. Overall, our findings reveal that ALKBH10B-mediated m6A demethylation in chloroplast mRNAs enhances photosynthesis and stress tolerance, highlighting that modulation of RNA methylation in chloroplasts can be a potential means for breeding stress-tolerant plants.
Related Concept Videos
Responses to Salt Stress
Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss
Responses to Heat and Cold Stress
mRNA Stability and Gene Expression
Cis-acting Elements involved in mRNA stability
Protein Transport to the Inner Chloroplast Membrane
Overview of Metabolism
Plant Metabolism
Sunlight, the primary source of energy in plants, is first absorbed by the chlorophyll pigments present in their leaves. Plants then use this energy to carry out photosynthesis, where water is oxidized into oxygen and carbon dioxide...

