Role of m6A RNA Methylation in Tumorigenesis and Development

doi:10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2018-1082

Abstract

Abstract: m6A methylation,which was first discovered in 1974,is a kind of methylation modification on RNA molecule. In recent years,it has become a research hotspot in life science. Modifications of m6A are dynamic and reversible in mammalian cells,which have been proposed as another type of epigenetic regulation similar to DNA and histone modifications. This RNA chemical marker is produced by the protein of m6A“Writers”and can be reversed by m6A“Erasers”（demethylase）. In addition,“Readers”can recognize the mRNA of m6A,and accordingly regulate the expression of downstream genes. m6A RNA methylation is involved in all stages in the life cycle of RNA,from RNA processing,nuclear export,translation modulation to RNA degradation,which suggests its potential of influencing a plurality of aspects of RNA metabolism. All of the recent studies reveal that m6A modification is a complicated regulation network in different tissues,cell lines,and space-time models,and it is be closely associated with tumor initiation and progression. This review focuses on the molecular regulatory mechanism of m6A,its physiological significance and the research progress in several kinds of human tumors,aiming at providing new insight for early clinical diagnosis and targeted therapy of cancer.

Key words: RNA methylation, m6A methylation, tumor

LONG Wen-lin, GUO Hui, SHENG Jie, SONG Ru-hui, XU Yao. Role of m6A RNA Methylation in Tumorigenesis and Development[J]. Biotechnology Bulletin, 2019, 35(6): 178-186.

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