title: Reversible RNA adenosine methylation in biological regulation.
abstract: N(6)-methyladenosine (m(6)A) is a ubiquitous modification in mRNA and other RNAs across most eukaryotes. For many years, however, the exact functions of m(6)A were not clearly understood. The discovery that the fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) is an m(6)A demethylase indicates that this modification is reversible and dynamically regulated, suggesting that it has regulatory roles. In addition, it has been shown that m(6)A affects cell fate decisions in yeast and plant development. Recent affinity-based m(6)A profiling in mouse and human cells further showed that this modification is a widespread mark in coding and noncoding RNA (ncRNA) transcripts and is likely dynamically regulated throughout developmental processes. Therefore, reversible RNA methylation, analogous to reversible DNA and histone modifications, may affect gene expression and cell fate decisions by modulating multiple RNA-related cellular pathways, which potentially provides rapid responses to various cellular and environmental signals, including energy and nutrient availability in mammals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, 929 East 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Guifang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Chuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000071516:Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO; D006801:Humans; D008745:Methylation; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010089:Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012326:RNA Splicing / Q000235:genetics; D020871:RNA Stability / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012313:RNA; C010223:N-methyladenosine; D000071516:Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO; C526492:FTO protein, human; D010089:Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating; D000241:Adenosine