Genome-wide identification and functional analysis of mRNA mA writers in soybean under abiotic stress.

N-methyladenosine (mA), a well-characterized RNA modification, is involved in regulating multiple biological processes; however, genome-wide identification and functional characterization of the mA modification in legume plants, including soybean ( (L.) Merr.), remains lacking. In this study, we utilized bioinformatics tools to perform comprehensive analyses of molecular writer candidates associated with the RNA mA modification in soybean, characterizing their conserved domains, motifs, gene structures, promoters, and spatial expression patterns. Thirteen mA writer complex genes in soybean were identified, which were assigned to four families: MT-A70, WTAP, VIR, and HAKAI. It also can be identified that multiple cis elements in the promoters of these genes, which were classified into five distinct groups, including elements responsive to light, phytohormone regulation, environmental stress, development, and others, suggesting that these genes may modulate various cellular and physiological processes in plants. Importantly, the enzymatic activities of two identified mA writers, GmMTA1 and GmMTA2, were confirmed . Furthermore, we analyzed the expression patterns of the s and s under different abiotic stresses, revealing their potential involvement in stress tolerance, especially in the response to alkalinity or darkness. Overexpressing and in soybean altered the tolerance of the plants to alkalinity and long-term darkness, further confirming their effect on the stress response. Collectively, our findings identified the RNA mA writer candidates in leguminous plants and highlighted the potential roles of s and s in the response to abiotic stress in soybean.