Alternative splicing: An efficient regulatory approach towards plant developmental plasticity

Abstract

Alternative splicing (AS) is a gene regulatory mechanism that plants adapt to modulate gene expression (GE) in multiple ways. AS generates alternative isoforms of the same gene following various development and environmental stimuli, increasing transcriptome plasticity and proteome complexity. AS controls the expression levels of certain genes and regulates GE networks that shape plant adaptations through nonsense-mediated decay (NMD). This review intends to discuss AS modulation, from interaction with noncoding RNAs to the established roles of splicing factors (SFs) in response to endogenous and exogenous cues. We aim to gather such studies that highlight the magnitude and impact of AS, which are not always clear from individual articles, when AS is increasing in individual genes and at a global level. This work also anticipates making plant researchers know that AS is likely to occur in their investigations and that dynamic changes in AS and their effects must be frequently considered. We also review our understanding of AS-mediated posttranscriptional modulation of plant stress tolerance and discuss its potential application in crop improvement in the future.

Alternative splicing in ABA signaling during seed germination

“…As a result, the number of functional miRNAs in the cell changes, affecting the expression level of their target genes ( Bielewicz et al., 2013 ; Zhang et al., 2022a ). In plants, AS controls the key developmental processes such as growth, circadian clock or flowering time, and adaptation to external conditions, including abiotic stress or pathogen attack ( Muhammad et al., 2022 ). Increasing evidence indicates that AS also regulates seed germination by modulating abscisic acid (ABA) signal transduction ( Zhang et al., 2016 ; Narsai et al., 2017 ).…”

“…AS controls the key developmental processes such as growth, circadian clock or flowering time, and adaptation to external conditions, including abiotic stress or pathogen attack (Muhammad et al, 2022). Increasing evidence indicates that AS also regulates seed germination by modulating abscisic acid (ABA) signal transduction (Zhang et al, 2016;Narsai et al, 2017).…”

Re-evaluating the impact of alternative RNA splicing on proteomic diversity

“…Protein-coding genes and lncRNA genes can generate multiple splice variants from one gene through AS ( Mercer et al, 2011 ; Khan, Wellinger, and Laurent 2021 ). From plants to humans, AS is a powerful mechanism that increases transcriptome plasticity and can control the expression level of certain genes ( Castle et al, 2008 ; Gueroussov et al, 2015 ; Muhammad et al, 2022 ). Indeed, RNA splice variants arising from AS can exhibit different mRNA stabilities and structures.…”