A plant-specific splicing factor RS33 regulates abiotic stress responses in rice

Here, we investigated the function of the plant-specific SR protein RS33 in pre-mRNA splicing regulation and abiotic stress responses in rice. The loss-of-function mutant, rs33, showed increased sensitivity to salt and low-temperature stress. Genome-wide analyses of gene expression and splicing in seedlings subjected to these stresses identified multiple splice isoforms from stress-responsive genes dependent on RS33. The number of RS33-regulated genes is much higher under low-temperature stress as compared to salt stress. Our results suggest that this plant-specific splicing factor plays crucial and distinct roles during plant adaptation to abiotic stresses. 7-day-old seedlings of rs33 mutant, and WT are treated for 3hours and 6hours with 200mM NaCl, 4ºC and mock treatments.