Insights into the role of alternative splicing in plant temperature response

Abstract

Alternative splicing occurs in all eukaryotic organisms. Since the first description of multiexon genes and the splicing machinery, the field has expanded rapidly, especially in animals and yeast. However, our knowledge about splicing in plants is still quite fragmented. Though eukaryotes show some similarity in the composition and dynamics of the splicing machinery, observations of unique plant traits are only starting to emerge. For instance, plant alternative splicing is closely linked to their ability to perceive various environmental stimuli. Due to their sessile lifestyle, temperature is a central source of information allowing plants to adjust their development to match current growth conditions. Hence, seasonal temperature fluctuations and day-night cycles can strongly influence plant morphology across developmental stages. Here we discuss the available data about temperature-dependent alternative splicing in plants. Given its fragmented state it is not always possible to fit specific observations into a coherent picture, yet it is sufficient to estimate the complexity of this field and the need of further research. Better understanding of alternative splicing as a part of plant temperature response and adaptation may also prove to be a powerful tool for both, fundamental and applied sciences.

Why lncRNAs were not conserved? Is it for adaptation?

“…In plants, as more forms and functions of AS are considered to modulate diverse biological mechanisms, including flowering time, circadian rhythms, and response to stress (Simpson et al, 2016;Ling et al, 2017;Verhage et al, 2017;Zhang and Xiao, 2018;Dikaya et al, 2021). lncRNAs in plants influence the gene expression and regulation both in direct and indirect ways.…”

Relevance and Regulation of Alternative Splicing in Plant Heat Stress Response: Current Understanding and Future Directions

“…In plants, neither a function of SRs nor of hnRNPs in heat stress sensitive AS has been shown. Nevertheless, Arabidopsis RS40, RSZ22, and SCL30 are involved in cold acclimation and acquisition of freezing tolerance ( Dikaya et al, 2021 ). However, the induction of several SR coding genes and particularly the accumulation of protein coding transcript variants supports a putative implication of some SRs in heat stress responsive AS ( Palusa et al, 2007 ; Rosenkranz et al, 2021 ).…”

Variety-Specific Transcriptional and Alternative Splicing Regulations Modulate Salt Tolerance in Rice from Early Stage of Stress

“…Such regulation of functional proteins will finally contribute to different growth and responses to salt stress between rice varieties (de Francisco Amorim et al 2018;Eckardt 2013;Kornblihtt 2014). Most recent studies considered that AS play essential roles in plant response to temperature disturbance (Dikaya et al 2021;Lin and Zhu 2021;Ling et al 2021). Alternative splicing (AS) of pre-mRNAs has been reported to be involved in plant growth and environmental cues, including biotic and abiotic stresses (Ling et al 2017(Ling et al , 2018Palusa et al 2007).…”