Journal Article

Identification of factors required for m6A mRNA methylation in Arabidopsis reveals a role for the conserved E3 ubiquitin ligase HAKAI

Mi Zhang, Geert De Jaeger, Dominique Eeckhout, Nigel P. Mongan, Kamil Růžička, Sedeer El-Showk, Rupert G. Fray, Jan Hejátko, Hongying Li, Ykä Helariutta, Mária Saleh, Zsuzsanna Bodi, Silin Zhong, Muhammad Kashif, Ana Campilho

2017

Overview

N6-adenosine methylation (m6A) of mRNA is an essential process in most eukaryotes, but its role and the status of factors accompanying this modification are still poorly understood. Using combined methods of genetics, proteomics and RNA biochemistry, we identified a core set of mRNA m6A writer proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana. The components required for m6A in Arabidopsis included MTA, MTB, FIP37, VIRILIZER and the E3 ubiquitin ligase HAKAI. Downregulation of these proteins led to reduced relative m6A levels and shared pleiotropic phenotypes, which included aberrant vascular formation in the root, indicating that correct m6A methylation plays a role in developmental decisions during pattern formation. The conservation of these proteins amongst eukaryotes and the demonstration of a role in writing m6A for the E3 ubiquitin ligase HAKAI is likely to be of considerable relevance beyond the plant sciences.

• Publisher: New Phytologist Trust,Wiley Subscription Services, Inc,John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subject: Aberration / Adenosine / Arabidopsis / Arabidopsis thaliana / Biochemistry / Components / Conservation / Decisions / Eukaryotes / eukaryotic cells / gene expression regulation / Genetics / HAKAI / Identification / Identification methods / messenger RNA / Methylation / mRNA / mRNA methylation / N6-methyladenosine / N6‐adenosine methylation (m6A) / Nucleic acids / Pattern formation / phenotype / Phenotypes / Proteins / Proteomics / protoxylem / Ribonucleic acid / RNA / Ubiquitin / Ubiquitin-protein ligase / VIRILIZER