Detection, regulation, and functions of RNA N(6)-methyladenosine modification in plants

N(6)-Methyladenosine (m(6)A) is the most abundant internal chemical modification in eukaryotic mRNA and plays important roles in gene expression regulation, including transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation. m(6)A is a reversible modification that is installed, removed, and recognized by methyltransferases (writers), demethylases (erasers), and m(6)A-binding proteins (readers), respectively. Recently, the breadth of research on m(6)A in plants has expanded, and the vital roles of m(6)A in plant development, biotic and abiotic stress responses, and crop trait improvement have been investigated. In this review, we discuss recent developments in research on m(6)A and highlight the detection methods, distribution, regulatory proteins, and molecular and biological functions of m(6)A in plants. We also offer some perspectives on future investigations, providing direction for subsequent research on m(6)A in plants.