Review: Open questions in plant RNA biology

The May 2023 issue of The Plant Cell has a focus on RNA biology, and some of the articles for this issue are online now. I particularly enjoyed this multi-author perspective review by Manavella et al., in which 12 RNA biology groups from across the globe share the questions that they find most compelling in their field today. Their short vignettes collectively address “RNA alternative splicing; RNA dynamics; RNA translation; RNA structures; R-loops; epitranscriptomics; long noncoding RNAs; small RNA production and their functions in crops; small RNAs during gametogenesis and in cross-kingdom RNA interference; and RNA-directed DNA methylation,” so there really is something for everyone here. Helpfully, each also has a short update of the state-of-the art of the discipline, making this an excellent resources to catch up and look ahead. There are few fields that have developed so quickly and recently as RNA biology, which surges ahead with each new methodological advancement, and which touches so pervasively on all facets of the plant life cycle, literally from birth to death. I hope you find time to read this information-packed and insightful review article. (Summary by Mary Williams @PlantTeaching) Plant Cell 10.1093/plcell/koac346