Systemic mobile RNAs: From molecular mechanisms to agricultural applications.
Wu Y, Wang S, Kragler F, Zhao J, Yang L
Plant Signaling
The potato in your garden doesn't decide to form tubers by accident — a tiny RNA molecule travels from the leaves all the way down to the roots to give the signal, and understanding that messenger could let breeders coax better harvests without genetic modification.
Plants have their own internal messaging system where tiny molecules called RNAs travel from one part of the plant to another, almost like text messages sent through the plant's plumbing. These messages tell roots when to form potatoes, tell the plant when to flower, and help it respond to pests or drought. Scientists are now using this natural delivery system to ship pest-fighting instructions directly into plants — and even to edit plant genes without leaving any foreign material behind.
Key Findings
Mobile RNAs travel long distances through the phloem (plant vascular tissue) and cell-to-cell through plasmodesmata and extracellular vesicles, controlling key developmental events including flowering time, tuberization, and leaf polarity.
Specific sequence motifs, RNA-binding proteins, and chemical modifications to the RNA itself (epitranscriptomic marks) determine which RNAs get loaded into the transport system and how far they travel.
Mobile CRISPR-Cas9 machinery can be delivered via the plant's own RNA transport network to achieve transgene-free gene editing, and RNA-loaded nanocarriers show promise as a new class of biodegradable, targeted pesticides.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Plants send RNA molecules as long-distance chemical messages through their vascular system to control major life events like flowering, tuber formation, and leaf shape. Scientists are now harnessing this natural communication system to develop pesticide-free crop protection and gene-editing tools that leave no foreign DNA behind.
Abstract Preview
Plants employ mobile RNAs as systemic signals to coordinate growth, development, and environmental responses across tissues. Recent techniques have identified diverse RNAs that move cell-to-cell an...
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The potato is a starchy tuberous vegetable native to the Americas that is consumed as a staple food in many parts of the world. Potatoes are underground stem tubers of the plant Solanum tuberosum, a perennial in the nightshade family Solanaceae.