RNA N⁶-methyladenosine modification promotes auxin biosynthesis required for malemeiosis in rice

背景+问题：M⁶-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification confers an essential layer of gene regulation in living organisms, including plants; yet, the underlying mechanisms of its deposition on specific target mRNAs involved in key plant developmental processes are so far unknown. 

结果1-OsFAP1招募OsFIP37介导YUC3基因的m6A甲基化：Here, we show that a core component of the rice m6A methyltransferase complex, OsFIP37, is recruited by an RNA-binding protein, OsFIP37-associated protein 1 (OsFAP1), to mediate m6A RNA modification on an auxin biosynthesis gene, OsYUCCA3, during microsporogenesis. 

结果2-YUC3基因的m6A甲基化的功能：This stabilizes OsYUCCA3 mRNA and promotes local auxinbiosynthesis in anthers during male meiosis, which is essential for meiotic division and subsequent pollen development in rice. 

结果3-OsFAP1功能缺失突变：Loss of function of OsFAP1 causes dissociation of OsFIP37 with OsYUCCA3 and the resulting abolished m6A deposition on OsYUCCA3. 

结论：Our findings reveal that OsFAP1-dependent m6A deposition on OsYUCCA3 by OsFIP37 constitutes a hitherto unknown link between RNA modification and hormonal control of male meiosis in plant reproductive development.

 摘 要 

包括植物在内的生物系统中，m6A RNA修饰赋予了基因调控的基本层面。但是，植物中m6A RNA修饰如何在参与关键发育过程的特定靶向mRNAs上沉积，这一机制还不明晰。本文中，作者发现在水稻小孢子发生时，m6A甲基转移酶复合物OsFIP37被一个RNA结合蛋白OsFAP1招募，介导生长素合成基因OsYUCCA3的m6A RNA修饰。该过程能够在雄性减数分裂过程中，增强花药组织中OsYUCCA3 mRNA的稳定性，促进局域的生长素生物合成，从而作用于水稻的减数分裂及其花粉发育。OsFAP1基因的功能缺失突变会导致OsFIP37和OsYUCCA3基因的脱离，这会导致OsYUCCA3基因上m6A沉积的去除。本文的研究结果揭示了一个植物生殖发育过程中RNA修饰与雄性减数分裂的激素控制之间的关联，即依赖于OsFAP1蛋白、由OsFIP37介导的OsYUCCA3基因m6A RNA修饰。

 通讯作者 

** Hao Yu **