Regulatory roles of alternative splicing (AS) and long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) in plant adaptation to abiotic stresses
Abstract
Abiotic stresses, which are intensified by climate change and human activities, including drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, heavy metals, and nutrient deficiencies, pose severe threat to global food security, reducing crop yields by up to 70% annually. Conventional breeding and chemical interventions have provided solutions but remain limited by cost, time, and genetic constraints, bolstering the need for advanced molecular approaches. Emerging multi-omics approaches including transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics and metabolomics highlight involvement of alternative splicing (AS) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in plant stress adaptation. AS, orchestrated by the spliceosome, enhances transcriptome and proteome diversity by generating multiple isoforms from a single gene, while lncRNAs, acting as scaffolds, signal molecules, and competitive endogenous RNAs, regulate gene expression at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels through diverse mechanisms, Evidence from model plants and crop species indicates that both AS and lncRNAs are dynamically modulated under stress conditions and contribute to plant adaptation. Emerging insights further suggest a coordinated interaction between these mechanisms, enabling regulatory flexibility and stress resilience. This review summarizes current knowledge on AS and lncRNAs and highlights their integrated roles in improving abiotic stress tolerance in plants.
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