Review: New insights into the plant epitranscriptome ($) (J. Exp. Bot.)

Just like the epigenome is the collection of epigenetic marks on DNA, the epitranscriptome is the collection of epigenetic marks on mRNA. Vandivier and Gregory review our current understanding of the epitranscriptome, with a focus on N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) and 5-methylcytosine (m⁵C), and their various writers, readers and erasers.  Transcriptome-wide sequencing has revealed that these marks occur extensively. Complementing the high-throughput mapping efforts, there is now a good set of genetic studies showing the importance of these epitranscriptomic marks on processes such as leaf and root development, timing of flowering, and stress responses. (Summary by Mary Williams)  J. Exp. Bot.  10.1093/jxb/ery262