title: N(6)-Methyladenosine Methyltransferases and Demethylases: New Regulators of Stem Cell Pluripotency and Differentiation.
abstract: The discovery of mammalian N(6)-methyladenosine (m(6)A) methyltransferases and demethylases has enriched our knowledge of the dynamic regulation of the most prevalent posttranscriptional RNA modification, m(6)A methylation. This reversible methylation process of adding and removing m(6)A marks on RNA has been shown to have broad biological functions in fine tuning cellular processes and gene expression. Recent studies have revealed a critical role for the currently known m(6)A methyltransferases and demethylases in regulating the pluripotency and differentiation of stem cells. These data establish a novel dimension in epigenetic regulation at the RNA level to affect mammalian cell fate.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University , Chengdu, China .
authors.forename: Yunshu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University , Chengdu, China .
authors.forename: Shiwen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University , Chengdu, China .
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yuan
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010089:Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating / Q000378:metabolism*; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology*; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012313:RNA; C010223:N-methyladenosine; D010089:Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating; D008780:Methyltransferases; D000241:Adenosine