The dynamic epitranscriptome: N6-methyladenosine and gene expression control.
N(6)-methyladenosine (m(6)A) is a modified base that has long been known to be present in non-coding RNAs, ribosomal RNA, polyadenylated RNA and at least one mammalian mRNA. However, our understanding of the prevalence of this modification has been fundamentally redefined by transcriptome-wide m(6)A mapping studies, which have shown that m(6)A is present in a large subset of the transcriptome in specific regions of mRNA. This suggests that mRNA may undergo post-transcriptional methylation to regulate its fate and function, which is analogous to methyl modifications in DNA. Thus, the pattern of methylation constitutes an mRNA 'epitranscriptome'. The identification of adenosine methyltransferases ('writers'), m(6)A demethylating enzymes ('erasers') and m(6)A-binding proteins ('readers') is helping to define cellular pathways for the post-transcriptional regulation of mRNAs.
Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York City, New York 10065, USA.
Kate D
KD
Meyer
Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York City, New York 10065, USA.
Samie R
SR
Jaffrey
D000241:Adenosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000071502:AlkB Homolog 5, RNA Demethylase; D000071516:Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO; D000818:Animals; D049308:Dioxygenases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008745:Methylation; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020871:RNA Stability; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D059467:Transcriptome
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C010223:N-methyladenosine; D049308:Dioxygenases; C559920:ALKBH5 protein, human; D000071502:AlkB Homolog 5, RNA Demethylase; D000071516:Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO; C526492:FTO protein, human; D008780:Methyltransferases; C468275:METTL3 protein, human; D000241:Adenosine