Long noncoding RNAs as molecular architects: Shaping plant functions and physiological plasticity

Abstract

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as pivotal regulators in gene expression networks, characterized by their structural flexibility and functional versatility. In plants, lncRNAs have gained increasing attention due to accumulating evidence of their roles in modulating developmental plasticity and agronomic traits. In this review, we focus on the origin, classification, and mechanisms of action of plant lncRNAs, with a particular emphasis on their involvement in developmental processes. We also comprehensively analyze the relationship between plant lncRNAs and their responses to environmental stimuli, discussing how environmental cues influence their expressions and regulatory functions. We then highlight the importance of the advanced technologies driving their functional exploration. Finally, we discuss recent discoveries of specific long noncoding transcripts that encode functional small peptides, revealing an additional layer of regulatory complexity to these transcripts. Overall, this review discuss the fascinating relationship between the dynamic transcription of lncRNAs and plant developmental plasticity, as well as environmental responses, and emphasizes the need for further research to uncover the underlying molecular mechanisms and exploit the potential of noncoding transcripts for RNA-based strategies in crop improvement and molecular breeding.