Molecular mechanisms and crop improvement potential of RNA N6-methyladenosine in plants

Abstract

N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is the most prevalent internal modification in eukaryotic mRNAs and contributes to the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. In plants, m⁶A modulates RNA splicing, stability, and translation, thereby influencing developmental processes and responses to environmental stimuli. This review systematically examines current advances in the understanding of m⁶A regulation in plants. We begin with an overview of the m⁶A modification and its associated regulatory machinery, including the writers (methyltransferases), erasers (demethylases), and readers (m⁶A-binding proteins) components, and discuss their roles in orchestrating RNA metabolism and determining plant phenotypes. Subsequent sections focus on the functional implications of m⁶A in economically important crops, with evidence drawn from model systems such as Arabidopsis thaliana and key species including rice (Oryza sativa), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and strawberry (Fragaria vesca), where m⁶A modifications have been linked to traits such as yield, maturation, and aroma. Finally, we explore emerging biotechnological strategies that harness m⁶A-mediated regulatory pathways to enhance crop quality, such as overexpression of human FTO encoding an m⁶A demethylase, quantitative m⁶A profiling at single-base resolution, CRISPR/Cas13-targeted m⁶A regulation, the application of small-molecule inhibitors, and m⁶A-driven multi-omics integration. These strategies provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the multifaceted roles of m⁶A in plant biology and underscore the potential of this modification as a target for next-generation crop improvement.