rna-structure
RNA structure refers to the three-dimensional folding and base-pairing patterns of RNA molecules that determine their function in cellular processes. In plant science, understanding RNA structure is critical for deciphering how plants regulate gene expression, respond to environmental stresses, and control developmental timing through mechanisms such as riboswitches and RNA-based regulatory elements. Insights into plant RNA architecture open pathways for engineering crops with improved resilience, yield, and disease resistance.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-12-01
A new review synthesizes evidence that plant RNA molecules called lncRNAs regulate gene activity through their folded 3D shapes rather than their raw genetic sequences. This structural logic is shared across many plant species and may be exploited to design crops with improved stress tolerance and productivity.
Plant lncRNA function is determined by RNA secondary (3D folded) structure, not by the primary nucleotide sequence — meaning two very different-looking sequences can perform the same job if they fold the same way.
Structural motifs within lncRNAs are conserved across the plant kingdom even when the underlying sequences diverge substantially, suggesting strong evolutionary pressure on shape rather than sequence.
The regulatory repertoire of plant lncRNAs spans both transcriptional (DNA-level) and post-transcriptional (RNA-level) control, and these molecules are proposed as novel molecular tools for crop improvement.