mRNA m<sup>6</sup>A reader-mediated phase separation as a potent regulator of abscisic acid response and flowering

Figures (1) Tables (0)

Figure 1.
The domain structures and phase separation mediated by m⁶A reader proteins. (a) m⁶A writers install m⁶A markers on mRNA, and m⁶A readers bind to the m⁶A-modified mRNA. The proteins harboring intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) or prion-like domains (PrLDs) interact with the eraser-bound m⁶A-modified mRNA to form condensates via phase separation. (b) The m⁶A reader ECT8, YTH07, and EHD6 contain IDRs, PrLDs, RNA-recognition motifs (RRMs), or YT521-B homology (YTH) domains. The abscisic acid (ABA)-induced ECT8 binds to the m⁶A-modified PYL7 mRNA, an ABA receptor, sequestering PYL7 transcripts into stress granules and reducing PYL7 protein levels, and leading to a negative ABA response in seedling growth and drought resistance. The YTH07‒EHD6 complex binds to the m⁶A-modified COL4 mRNA, a flowering repressor, sequestering COL4 transcripts into ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granule and leading to early flowering.