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Review
. 2022 Mar 1;100(3):skac034.
doi: 10.1093/jas/skac034.

Function of m6A and its regulation of domesticated animals' complex traits

Siyuan Mi  1 , Yuanjun Shi  1 , Gerile Dari  1 , Ying Yu  1
Affiliations
Review

Function of m6A and its regulation of domesticated animals' complex traits

Siyuan Mi et al. J Anim Sci. .

Abstract

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most functionally important epigenetic modification in RNA. The m6A modification widely exists in mRNA and noncoding RNA, influences the mRNA processing, and regulates the secondary structure and maturation of noncoding RNA. Studies showed the important regulatory roles of m6A modification in animal's complex traits, such as development, immunity, and reproduction-related traits. As an important intermediate stage from animal genome to phenotype, the function of m6A in the complex trait formation of domestic animals cannot be neglected. This review discusses recent research advances on m6A modification in well-studied organisms, such as human and model organisms, and introduces m6A detection technologies, small-molecule inhibitors of m6A-related enzymes, interaction between m6A and other biological progresses, and the regulation mechanisms of m6A in domesticated animals' complex traits.

Keywords: N6-methyladenosine; complex traits; domesticated animals; interaction; m6A detection technologies; small-molecule inhibitors.

Plain language summary

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant RNA modification in eukaryotes. Current studies showed that the m6A modification widely regulates a series of life processes, such as biological metabolism, growth and development, inflammation, and cancer. Understanding the m6A process of domestic animals can provide a new breakthrough for further promoting animal production performance and improving reproduction and disease resistance. Thus, this review briefly introduces m6A-related enzymes, m6A detection technologies, small-molecule inhibitors of m6A-related enzymes, and interaction between m6A and other biological progresses. In addition, the regulation mechanisms of m6A in domesticated animals’ complex traits are elaborated and discussed.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Mechanism of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation. Me, methylated adenosine; N6-methyladenosine; A, unmethylated adenosine.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) methylation widely interacts with other biological progresses. TF, transcription factor; MTC, methyltransferase complex; Sumo, Sumoylation; A, N6-methyladenosine.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
m6A process regulates innate and adaptive immunity. RIG-I, RNA sensor, retinoic acid-inducible gene I; CSR, class switch recombination.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
m6A-related enzymes are involved in animal reproduction and development.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Improving animal performance via the way of m6A.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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