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Review
. 2020 Nov 10;8(1):61.
doi: 10.1186/s40364-020-00244-x.

N6-methyladenine modification in noncoding RNAs and its function in cancer

Xinyu Yang  1   2 , Xiang Hu  1   2 , Jinting Liu  1   2 , Ruiqing Wang  1   2 , Chen Zhang  1   2 , Fengjiao Han  1   2 , Yuhong Chen  1   2 , Daoxin Ma  3   4
Affiliations
Review

N6-methyladenine modification in noncoding RNAs and its function in cancer

Xinyu Yang et al. Biomark Res. .

Abstract

Non-coding RNAs are the main component of the extensive transcription results of the mammalian genome. They are not transcribed into proteins but play critical roles in regulating multiple biological processes and affecting cancer progression. m6A modification is one of the most abundant internal RNA modification of mammalian cells, and it involves almost all aspects of RNA metabolism. Recent research revealed tight correlations between m6A modification and ncRNAs and indicated the interaction between m6A and ncRNAs act a pivotal part in the development of cancer. The correlation between m6A modification and ncRNAs provides a new perspective for exploring the potential regulatory mechanism of tumor gene expression, and suggest that m6A modification and ncRNAs may be important prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for multiple cancers. In this review, we summarize the potential regulatory mechanisms between m6A methylation and ncRNAs, highlighting how their relationship affects biological functions in cancer.

Keywords: Cancer; Noncoding RNAs; m6A modification.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The reversible process of m6A modification in ncRNAs. The process of m6A methylation on ncRNAs involves three crucial components: m6A methylase, m6A demethylase and m6A methylation recognition protein. m6A writer complex composed of the METTL3-METTL14-WTAP core component and other regulatory cofactors. The m6A modification can be removed by m6A demethylase enzymes ALKBH5 and FTO. M6A modifications are functionally facilitated by the m6A methylation recognition protein YTHDF1, YTHDF2, YTHDF3, YTHDC1, YTHDC2 and HNRNP proteins
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The summary of the interaction between m6A and ncRNAs in cancer. In cancer cells, m6A modification could regualte the stability lncRNAs or recruit the m6A recogenizing protein to lncRNAs. m6A modification could also affect the process and maturation of miRNAs. As for circRNAs, m6A could regulate the stability of mRNA through circRNAs. These ncRNAs are all involved in the regulation of m6A methylation process
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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