mRNA 3′ end formation in plants: Novel connections to growth, development and environmental responses

3′ end processing and mRNA polyadenylation is a vital aspect of gene expression in eukaryotes, and also a step at which expression may be regulated. A spate of recent research in plants links different subunits of the polyadenylation complex with growth and development. These reports provide insight into mechanisms by which APA may be regulated, and perhaps into mechanisms by which pre-mRNAs are processed and polyadenylated. In this review, several of these recent reports are discussed, with the purpose of highlighting novel features of mRNA 3′ end formation in plants and also developing broad themes that connect APA with plant growth, development, and responses to the environment. This article is categorized under: RNA Processing > 3′ End Processing RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Development.