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ABI5-activated ALKBH10B demethylates RAP2.6 mRNA to modulate Arabidopsis salt tolerance
Shurong Xuan1, Mengxue Cheng1, Yunze Wen1
1College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, China.
Plant Cell Reports
|July 27, 2026
Summary
Salt stress activates ABI5 to boost ALKBH10B, which targets RAP2.6 mRNA. This process regulates plant salt tolerance by controlling RNA modifications and gene expression.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a crucial RNA modification influencing plant development and environmental adaptation.
- Abscisic acid (ABA) signaling is vital for plant responses to abiotic stresses like salt.
- Understanding the interplay between RNA modifications and stress signaling is key for improving crop resilience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of the m6A demethylase ALKBH10B in ABA-mediated salt stress signaling in Arabidopsis.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanism linking ABA signaling to m6A modification in plant salt tolerance.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of seed germination under salt stress in ALKBH10B mutants.
- ChIP-seq to identify transcription factors binding to the ALKBH10B promoter.
- RNA sequencing and m6A-seq to identify ALKBH10B targets.
- Quantitative PCR to assess gene expression levels.
Main Results:
- Loss of ALKBH10B function resulted in significantly delayed seed germination under salt stress.
- Salt stress induced ALKBH10B transcription via ABI5 binding to its promoter.
- ALKBH10B directly targets RAP2.6 mRNA, promoting its degradation.
- ALKBH10B-mediated RAP2.6 regulation modulates the expression of salt-responsive genes.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals a novel pathway ABI5-ALKBH10B-RAP2.6 that integrates ABA signaling with reversible m6A modification.
- ALKBH10B acts as a key regulator in Arabidopsis salt tolerance by controlling RNA demethylation.
- This work provides mechanistic insights into the dynamic regulation of m6A modifications in plant stress adaptation.
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