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Updated: Jan 17, 2026

Antibody-Free Assay for RNA Methyltransferase Activity Analysis
Published on: July 9, 2019
Why does the m6A writer complex require so many proteins?
Kiran Pandey1, Hui Xian Poh1, Samie R Jaffrey1
1Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York, United States of America.
Abstract:
The conversion of adenosine to N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most common internal modification made to eukaryotic mRNA and is involved in post-transcriptional control of gene expression. When dysregulated, m6A has been linked to a variety of diseases, including cancer. Unlike other RNA methyltransferases, m6A conversion is catalyzed by a multi-protein writer complex with only one catalytic subunit. So why is the m6A writer complex composed of so many proteins? This Unsolved Mystery explores the possible functions of the proteins of the m6A writer complex and discusses why it might require multiple subunits. Understanding the roles of these proteins could provide insight into how m6A is regulated and reveal new strategies for targeting diseases linked to m6A dysregulation.
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