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Nanopore direct RNA sequencing provides additional insight into transcriptome differentiation during transition to the aquatic environment of amphibious liverwort Riccia fluitans L. (Marchantiales)
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  • Jakub Sawicki,
  • Mateusz Maździarz,
  • Katarzyna Krawczyk,
  • Mateusz Kurzyński,
  • Łukasz Paukszto,
  • Joanna Szablińska-Piernik,
  • Monika Szczecińska,
  • Paweł Sulima
Jakub Sawicki
Uniwersytet Warminsko-Mazurski w Olsztynie

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Mateusz Maździarz
Uniwersytet Warminsko-Mazurski w Olsztynie
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Katarzyna Krawczyk
Uniwersytet Warminsko-Mazurski w Olsztynie
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Mateusz Kurzyński
Uniwersytet Warminsko-Mazurski w Olsztynie
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Łukasz Paukszto
Uniwersytet Warminsko-Mazurski w Olsztynie
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Joanna Szablińska-Piernik
Uniwersytet Warminsko-Mazurski w Olsztynie
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Monika Szczecińska
Uniwersytet Warminsko-Mazurski w Olsztynie
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Paweł Sulima
Uniwersytet Warminsko-Mazurski w Olsztynie
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Abstract

Riccia fluitans, an amphibious liverwort, exhibits a fascinating adaptation mechanism to transition between terrestrial and aquatic environments. Utilizing nanopore direct RNA sequencing, we try to capture the complex epitranscriptomic changes undergo in response to land-water transition. A significant finding is the identification of 45 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with a split of 33 downregulated in terrestrial forms and 12 upregulated in aquatic forms, indicating a robust transcriptional response to environmental changes. Analysis of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications revealed 173 m6A sites in aquatic and only 27 sites in the terrestrial forms, indicating a significant increase in methylation in the former, which could facilitate rapid adaptation to changing environments. The aquatic form showed a global elongation bias in poly(A) tails, which is associated with increased mRNA stability and efficient translation, enhancing the plant’s resilience to water stress. Significant differences in polyadenylation signals were observed between the two forms, with nine transcripts showing notable changes in tail length, suggesting an adaptive mechanism to modulate mRNA stability and translational efficiency in response to environmental conditions. This differential methylation and polyadenylation underline a sophisticated layer of post-transcriptional regulation, enabling Riccia fluitans to fine-tune gene expression in response to its living conditions. These insights into transcriptome dynamics offer a deeper understanding of plant adaptation strategies at the molecular level, contributing to the broader knowledge of plant biology and evolution.These findings underscore the sophisticated post-transcriptional regulatory strategies Riccia fluitans employs to navigate the challenges of aquatic versus terrestrial living, highlighting the plant’s dynamic adaptation to environmental stresses and its utility as a model for studying adaptation mechanisms in amphibious plants.