Systemic RNA Signaling in Plants

Dear Colleagues,

It is now a well-established fact that messenger RNAs (mRNAs) form central systemic signaling molecules in several key aspects of plant development. Considering the complexity of the plant system, it is unsurprising that numerous other forms of RNAs, including long non-protein-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and small RNAs (sRNAs), for example, have also been identified to function as systemic signaling molecules, not only in plant development, but also in mediating the defense response of a plant to invading pathogens, or as part of the adaptive response of a plant to environmental stress. More recent research has further revealed that many mobile RNAs are enriched in specific sequence or structural modifications proposed to promote transcript mobility. In addition, a suite of highly specialized proteins has also been identified, and shown to be required for the systemic movement of various forms of mobile RNAs (mRNAs, lncRNAs and sRNAs).

The systemic signaling ability of RNA molecules has currently formed a central research focus for many plant biology research laboratories globally; as such, this Special Issue of IJMS calls for review articles or research studies concerning the field of “Systemic RNA Signaling in Plants”. Specifically, article topics submitted to this Special Issue of IJMS should have a strong molecular biology and/or molecular genetics focus, addressing a key aspect of systemic RNA signaling in plants, including:

• RNA mobility and systemic RNA movement;
• Mobile, long, non-protein-coding RNAs and small RNAs;
• Nucleotide and structural modifications directing systemic RNA movement;
• RNA binding and other interacting proteins that mediate systemic RNA movement;
• Systemic RNA signaling as part of plant development, pathogen defense and environmental stress adaptation.

Dr. Andrew Eamens
Guest Editor

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