RNA metabolism in plant abiotic stress responses

LSMs constitute a family of proteins involved in RNA metabolism. In our lab, we have characterized the Arabidopsis LSM proteins and we have demonstrated that they are organized in two RNA-binding heptameric complexes. The complex LSM1-7 localizes in the cytoplasm and promotes mRNA decapping and decay. The complex LSM2-8 localizes into the nucleus and is involved in mRNA splicing. Our results show that Arabidopsis LSM complexes regulate Arabidopsis tolerance to abiotic stresses by controlling the turnover and processing of specific stress-related transcripts. Our goal at mid/long term is to understand how the complexes identify and select the specific mRNA targets in each case.