m(6)A readers ECT2/ECT3/ECT4 enhance mRNA stability through direct recruitment of the poly(A) binding proteins in Arabidopsis

BACKGROUND: RNA N(6)-methyladenosine (m(6)A) modification is critical for plant growth and crop yield. m(6)A reader proteins can recognize m(6)A modifications to facilitate the functions of m(6)A in gene regulation. ECT2, ECT3, and ECT4 are m(6)A readers that are known to redundantly regulate trichome branching and leaf growth, but their molecular functions remain unclear. RESULTS: Here, we show that ECT2, ECT3, and ECT4 directly interact with each other in the cytoplasm and perform genetically redundant functions in abscisic acid (ABA) response regulation during seed germination and post-germination growth. We reveal that ECT2/ECT3/ECT4 promote the stabilization of their targeted m(6)A-modified mRNAs, but have no function in alternative polyadenylation and translation. We find that ECT2 directly interacts with the poly(A) binding proteins, PAB2 and PAB4, and maintains the stabilization of m(6)A-modified mRNAs. Disruption of ECT2/ECT3/ECT4 destabilizes mRNAs of ABA signaling-related genes, thereby promoting the accumulation of ABI5 and leading to ABA hypersensitivity. CONCLUSION: Our study reveals a unified functional model of m(6)A mediated by m(6)A readers in plants. In this model, ECT2/ECT3/ECT4 promote stabilization of their target mRNAs in the cytoplasm. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13059-023-02947-4.