Epitranscriptomic reprogramming in response to low CO 2 stress and m 6 A engineering to enhance biomass production in Nannochloropsis oceanica
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: SUMMARY N 6 ‐adenine methylation (m 6 A) as an epitranscriptomic mark is the most abundant modification in eukaryotic RNA and plays a dynamically regulated role. However, m 6 A dynamics, deposition and engineering in microalgae remain largely unknown. Here, in Nannochloropsis oceanica , the dynamic alterations and reprogramming in m 6 A RNA modifications after the shift from high to low CO 2 conditions were first investigated using methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing. The m 6 A peaks in N. oceanica were mainly enriched in 3′UTR. A positive association between m 6 A abundance and mRNA transcription of CO 2 ‐responsive genes was observed; moreover, N. oceanica cells adopted versatile strategies in a dynamic reprogramming of m 6 A in response to low CO 2 stress. Secondly, knockout of two putative m 6 A methylases including NoMTA (NO04G02990) and NoMTB (NO07G02450) by genome editing induced methylation reprogramming, which was associated with expression changes of low‐CO 2 responsive genes such as carbon/nitrogen metabolism, and photorespiration genes that underlie reductions in growth and biomass. Lastly, m 6 A modification reprogramming was first engineered to increase low‐CO 2 stress tolerance and biomass productivity by the CRISPR/dCas13 system combined with MTA and NoMTB under low CO 2 in N. oceanica . Therefore, these strides would pave the way for microalgal epigenetics and future industrial applications.
Source: The Plant Journal
DOI: 10.1111/tpj.70566
Authors: Han Zhu, Yikai Wu, Meng Feng, Lingyu Ouyang, Hang Su, Li Wei
Institution: Hainan Normal University
Language: English
Topic: RNA modifications and cancer
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $5,450
Awards: G5036037305, G7942497294
OpenAlex ID: W4416147226