Pathogen induced m6A dynamics regulate plant immunity

Post-transcriptional regulation of mRNA mediated by methylation at the N6 position of adenine (N6-methyladenosine (m6A)) can have profound effects on transcriptome regulation in plants. Focused studies across eukaryotes offer glimpses into the processes governed by m6A throughout developmental and disease states. However, we lack an understanding of the dynamics and scope of regulatory potential m6A possesses during biotic stress responses in plants. Here, we provide a comprehensive look into the effects m6A has on both the short-term and long-term response to pathogenic stress in Arabidopsis. m6A deposition influences transcript abundance and stability on populations of stress-responsive transcripts. Additionally, we demonstrate a time- and stress-dependent modulation of m6A highlighting specific stress-responsive transcripts regulated directly and indirectly by this mark. As a result, m6A deficient plants are more resistant to bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae infection, and this mark is essential in dictating and coordinating transcript fate during a biotic stress reprograming event. Overall, we show m6A is a critical aspect in modulating the post-transcriptional regulation of the transcriptome in response to pathogenic stress in plants. 3 Replicates GMUCT seq on 14day old seedlings, 3 Replicates mRNA seq flg22-treated 14day old seedling, 3 Replicates 14day old seedlings m6A IP, 3 Replicates m6A IP pair-end P.syringae maculicola-treated 4 week old leaves, 3 Replicates of mRNA seq pair-end P.syringae maculicola-treated 4 week old leaves