Methylthioadenosine-driven rewiring of sulfur assimilation lowers the methyl index and fertility in Arabidopsis.
- Open access
MTA overaccumulation in Arabidopsis reproductive tissues reduces sulfur metabolites and alters methylation, impairing development and fertility.
- Why it matters: Understanding how sulfur metabolism influences plant growth and reproduction is crucial for improving crop resilience and fertility, yet the regulatory mechanisms remain unclear.
- What they did: The study analyzed Arabidopsis with decreased MTA recycling, using metabolite profiling, RNA-seq, and bisulfite sequencing to assess developmental, metabolic, and epigenetic changes.
- The result: Findings reveal that MTA buildup disrupts sulfur metabolite levels and methylation patterns, leading to developmental defects and reduced fertility, highlighting MTA’s broad regulatory role.