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Review
. 2022 Jan 29;22(1):48.
doi: 10.1186/s12935-022-02452-x.

Dynamic regulation and functions of mRNA m6A modification

Shanshan Wang  1 , Wei Lv  1 , Tao Li  2   3 , Shubing Zhang  1 , Huihui Wang  1 , Xuemei Li  1 , Lianzi Wang  1 , Dongyue Ma  1 , Yan Zang  1 , Jilong Shen  4 , Yuanhong Xu  1 , Wei Wei  5
Affiliations
Review

Dynamic regulation and functions of mRNA m6A modification

Shanshan Wang et al. Cancer Cell Int. .

Abstract

N6-Methyladenosine (m6A), the most abundant internal modification associated with eukaryotic mRNAs, has emerged as a dynamic regulatory mechanism controlling the expression of genes involved in many physiological activities by affecting various steps of mRNA metabolism, including splicing, export, translation, and stability. Here, we review the general role of m6A, highlighting recent advances related to the three major types enzymes that determine the level of m6A modification (i.e., writers, erasers, and readers) and the regulatory mechanism by which m6A influences multiple stages of RNA metabolism. This review clarifies the close connection and interaction between m6A modification and nuclear gene expression, and provides key background information for further studies of its roles in numerous physiological and pathophysiological processes. Among them, perhaps the most eye-catching process is tumorigenesis. Clarifying the molecular mechanism of tumorigenesis, development and metastasis in various tissues of the human body is conducive to curbing out-of-control cell activities from the root and providing a new strategy for human beings to defeat tumors.

Keywords: Gene expression; Mechanism; m6A; mRNA metabolism.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Dynamic and reversible process of m6A modification and three recognition methods of readers
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
METTL16-mediated regulation of MAT2A synthesis by environmental factors
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Readers recruit splicing factors to control the alternative splicing of nascent transcripts
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Readers mediate mRNA export through channel proteins
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Cap-independent translations
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Two main degradation mechanisms of m6A-remarked mRNAs
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Readers affect the stability of m6A-remarked mRNAs in different ways
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
carRNAs globally tune chromatin accessibility and transcription activity
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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