Splicing as an integrative layer linking cell cycle regulation, epigenetic dynamics, and environmental responses in...

Plants continuously adjust growth and development in response to environmental fluctuations through mechanisms that coordinate gene expression and cell cycle progression. Advances in our understanding of these regulatory pathways support a model in which they function as interconnected layers that fine-tune cell cycle progression according to developmental and environmental signals. Alternative splicing (AS) has emerged as a major regulatory layer in these processes, generating transcript diversity and modulating the activity of genes involved in developmental transitions and stress responses. Increasing evidence indicates that several spliceosomal components and splicing regulators are also connected to cell cycle control, influencing the expression, processing, or activity of key cell cycle regulators. In parallel, chromatin modifications and chromatin-associated factors shape transcriptional activity and splice-site selection, providing a mechanistic link between environmental perception and RNA processing. Here, we review recent progress in elucidating the mechanisms underlying these regulatory layers and examine evidence for their extensive functional interconnectivity. We discuss current advances in the understanding of the interplay between alternative splicing, chromatin remodeling, and cell cycle regulation in plants, highlighting how these processes might contribute to developmental plasticity and environmental adaptation while identifying key gaps that remain to be addressed.