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Aberrant Regulation of mRNA m⁶A Modification in Cancer Development

Junyun Luo1, Hui Liu2, Siyu Luan3

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China. junyluo@126.com.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|August 29, 2018
PubMed

Insights

N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) RNA modification is crucial in biological processes. Aberrant m⁶A levels in cancer, driven by writers, erasers, and readers, are linked to disease progression, offering new diagnostic and therapeutic targets.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Epigenetics
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is the most abundant internal modification in eukaryotic messenger RNAs (mRNAs).
  • m⁶A modification is dynamically regulated by m⁶A 'writers' (methyltransferases) and 'erasers' (demethylases), and its fate is determined by m⁶A 'reader' proteins.
  • m⁶A influences multiple stages of mRNA metabolism and various biological processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the role of m⁶A RNA modification in cancer development.
  • To highlight the association between dysregulated m⁶A levels and carcinogenesis.
  • To explore the potential of m⁶A machinery in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on m⁶A modification in cancer.
  • Analysis of the roles of m⁶A writers, erasers, and readers in cancer progression.
  • Discussion of the implications of m⁶A deregulation for cancer biology.

Main Results:

  • Aberrant cellular m⁶A levels are strongly correlated with cancer.
  • Deregulation of m⁶A writers, erasers, or readers is associated with carcinogenesis and cancer progression.
  • m⁶A modification impacts multiple cellular pathways relevant to cancer.

Conclusions:

  • Dysregulation of the m⁶A RNA modification machinery is implicated in human cancers.
  • Understanding m⁶A regulation in cancer can lead to novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
  • Targeting m⁶A pathways may offer new avenues for cancer treatment.
Keywords:
cancer developmentm6Am6A eraserm6A readerm6A writer

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