Regulation of Alternative Splicing in Catharanthus roseus in Response to Methyl Jasmonate Modulation During Development and Stress Resilience

Aala Abulfaraj; Abeer Al-Andal

Just Accepted

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Regulation of Alternative Splicing in Catharanthus roseus in Response to Methyl Jasmonate Modulation During Development and Stress Resilience

Aala Abulfaraj , Abeer Al-Andal

Abstract

Catharanthus roseus represents a reservoir of various terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs) and possesses adaptive mechanisms to withstand both biotic and abiotic stresses. We employed RNA-Seq to investigate the effects of MeJA on alternative splicing (AS) mechanisms in C. roseus. This approach entailed the identification of differentially expressed alternatively spliced (DAS) genes following MeJA treatment at 6, 12, and 24 days. Bioinformatics tools were utilized to identify pairs of co-expressed splicing factors (SFs) and DAS genes, while exploring the potential roles of the co-expressed SFs in the maturation of their respective transcripts. Twenty two clusters encompassing 17 MeJA-responsive DAS genes co-expressing with 10 SF genes. Notable DAS genes, including C3H62, WRK41, PIL57, NIP21, and EDL6, exhibited co-expression with the SF genes SR34a, DEAD29, SRC33, DEAH10, and DEAD29, respectively. These gene pairs are jointly implicated in plant developmental processes and/or stress responses. It was proposed that MeJA activates the expression of genes encoding SFs that are regulated in tandem with their co-expressed DAS genes. This interaction implies that MeJA could enhance the regulatory frameworks that control splicing mechanisms, resulting in the generation of specific mRNA isoforms that, in turn, trigger the expression of particular DAS gene variants to allow the plant to effectively respond to environmental stimuli and developmental signals. In conclusion, this research advances our understanding of how MeJA modulates alternative splicing in C. roseus, potentially influencing various aspects of plant physiology and metabolism. It is recommended that future studies focus on validating the functional relationships between the identified SF/DAS gene pairs and their specific roles in plant development and stress responses, as well as exploring the potential of manipulating these splicing mechanisms to enhance the production of valuable TIAs in C. roseus.

FP25017 Accepted 18 March 2025