Alternative polyadenylation (APA) represents an important mechanism of post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in plants. This review focuses on the basic molecular mechanisms of APA and its impact on mRNA stability, translation efficiency, and the formation of functionally diverse protein isoforms. Special emphasis is placed on the role of APA in plant responses to abiotic and biotic stresses, such as drought, hypoxia, salinity, low temperatures, and pathogen infections. Recent research shows that APA enables rapid and flexible changes to the transcriptome, allowing plants to respond more effectively to unfavorable environmental conditions without alterations in the genetic sequence. Due to its role in enhancing mRNA stability and accelerating the synthesis of protective proteins, APA holds great potential for applications in agronomy, particularly in the development of plants resistant to climate change and stress conditions.
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