Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 20, 2025
08:56
A Method for Measuring RNA N6-methyladenosine Modifications in Cells and Tissues
Published on: December 5, 2016
11.0K
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation mediated by methyltransferase complex subunit WTAP regulates amelogenesis
Furong Xie1, Xueqin Zhu1, Xiao Liu1
1Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China.
The Journal of Biological Chemistry
|November 20, 2022
Summary
Wilms tumor 1-associated protein (WTAP) regulates dental enamel formation. Loss of WTAP impairs ameloblast differentiation and Sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling, crucial for tooth development.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation is a widespread posttranscriptional modification vital for development.
- Wilms tumor 1-associated protein (WTAP) is a key component of the m6A methyltransferase complex.
- The role of m6A RNA methylation in mammalian dental enamel development is largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of WTAP-mediated m6A RNA methylation in mammalian amelogenesis.
- To determine the effects of Wtap inactivation on tooth enamel development.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Cre/loxp system for specific inactivation of Wtap in mouse enamel epithelium.
- Generated Wtap conditional knockout (KO) mice to study enamel development defects.
- Analyzed cellular differentiation and gene expression, including Sonic hedgehog (SHH).
Main Results:
- WTAP is expressed early in tooth development.
- Specific inactivation of Wtap in mouse enamel epithelium caused severe amelogenesis defects.
- Loss of Wtap impaired enamel epithelial cell differentiation into ameloblasts.
- Wtap deficiency inhibited Sonic hedgehog (SHH) expression, impacting ameloblast generation.
Conclusions:
- WTAP plays a critical role in mammalian dental enamel formation.
- WTAP-mediated m6A methylation is essential for proper amelogenesis.
- WTAP influences ameloblast differentiation through the SHH signaling pathway.
Related Concept Videos
02:23RNA Editing
9.1K
RNA editing is a post-transcriptional modification where a precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA) nucleotide sequence is changed by base insertion, deletion, or modification. The extent of RNA editing varies from a few hundred bases, in mitochondrial DNA of trypanosomes, to a just single base, in nuclear genes of mammals. Even a single base change in the pre-mRNA can convert a codon for one amino acid into the codon for another amino acid or a stop codon. This type of re-coding can significantly affect the...
9.1K
02:36Transfer RNA Synthesis
12.1K
One of the unique features of tRNA is the presence of modified bases. In some tRNAs, modified bases account for nearly 20% of the total bases in the molecule. Altogether, these unusual bases protect the tRNA from enzymatic degradation by RNases.
Each of these chemical modifications is carried by a specific enzyme, post-transcription. All of these enzymes have unique base and site-specificity. Methylation, the most common chemical modification, is carried by at least nine different enzymes, with...
Each of these chemical modifications is carried by a specific enzyme, post-transcription. All of these enzymes have unique base and site-specificity. Methylation, the most common chemical modification, is carried by at least nine different enzymes, with...
12.1K
01:35Pre-mRNA Processing: Modification of pre-mRNA Ends
9.7K
In eukaryotic cells, transcripts made by RNA polymerase are modified and processed before exiting the nucleus. Unprocessed RNA is called precursor mRNA or pre-mRNA to distinguish it from mature mRNA.
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a cap to the 5' end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5' phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached (7-methyl guanosine). This 5' cap helps...
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a cap to the 5' end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5' phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached (7-methyl guanosine). This 5' cap helps...
9.7K
01:53RNA Stability
33.8K
Intact DNA strands can be found in fossils, while scientists sometimes struggle to keep RNA intact under laboratory conditions. The structural variations between RNA and DNA underlie the differences in their stability and longevity. Because DNA is double-stranded, it is inherently more stable. The single-stranded structure of RNA is less stable but also more flexible and can form weak internal bonds. Additionally, most RNAs in the cell are relatively short, while DNA can be up to 250 million...
33.8K
02:01pre-mRNA Processing
53.2K
In eukaryotic cells, transcripts made by RNA polymerase are modified and processed before exiting the nucleus. Unprocessed RNA is called precursor mRNA or pre-mRNA to distinguish it from mature mRNA.
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a “cap” to the 5’ end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5’ phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached to it (7-Methyl...
Once about 20-40 ribonucleotides have been joined together by RNA polymerase, a group of enzymes adds a “cap” to the 5’ end of the growing transcript. In this process, a 5’ phosphate is replaced by modified guanosine that has a methyl group attached to it (7-Methyl...
53.2K
01:17Phase II Reactions: Methylation Reactions
287
Methylation is a phase II biotransformation process involving the attachment of a methyl group to a substrate. Enzymes known as methyltransferases orchestrate this reaction.
The mechanism of methylation unfolds in two stages. The first stage sees a methyltransferase enzyme facilitating the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to the substrate, forming S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). The second stage involves further metabolism of SAH into homocysteine, which can be recycled...
The mechanism of methylation unfolds in two stages. The first stage sees a methyltransferase enzyme facilitating the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to the substrate, forming S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). The second stage involves further metabolism of SAH into homocysteine, which can be recycled...
287