Modifications of the cellular proteome pool upon stress allow plants to tolerate environmental changes. Alternative splicing is the most significant mechanism responsible for the production of multiple protein isoforms from a single gene. The spliceosome, a large ribonucleoprotein complex, together with several associated proteins, controls this pre-mRNA processing, adding an additional level of regulation to gene expression. Deep sequencing of transcriptomes revealed that this co- or post-transcriptional mechanism is highly induced by abiotic stress, and concerns vast numbers of stress-related genes. Confirming the importance of splicing in plant stress adaptation, key players of stress signaling have been shown to encode alternative transcripts, whereas mutants lacking splicing factors or associated components show a modified sensitivity and defective responses to abiotic stress. Here, we examine recent literature on alternative splicing and splicing alterations in response to environmental stresses, focusing on its role in stress adaptation and analyzing the future perspectives and directions for research.
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October 2020
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Centrosomes are microtubule-organizing centres required for the asymmetric division of neural stem cells, which support neurodevelopment, as discussed in a mini-review by Robinson and colleagues (pages 2101–2115) In the cover image, microtubules are shown in yellow and neural stem cells (aPKC) are magenta. Image provided by Dorothy Lerit.
Review Article|
September 01 2020
Alternative splicing in plant abiotic stress responses
Paola Punzo;
Paola Punzo
Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council of Italy, 80055 Portici, Naples, Italy
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Stefania Grillo;
Stefania Grillo
Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council of Italy, 80055 Portici, Naples, Italy
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Giorgia Batelli
Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council of Italy, 80055 Portici, Naples, Italy
Correspondence: Giorgia Batelli (giorgia.batelli@ibbr.cnr.it)
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
June 28 2020
Revision Received:
August 05 2020
Accepted:
August 07 2020
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© 2020 The Author(s). Published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society
2020
Biochem Soc Trans (2020) 48 (5): 2117–2126.
Article history
Received:
June 28 2020
Revision Received:
August 05 2020
Accepted:
August 07 2020
Citation
Paola Punzo, Stefania Grillo, Giorgia Batelli; Alternative splicing in plant abiotic stress responses. Biochem Soc Trans 30 October 2020; 48 (5): 2117–2126. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20200281
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