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Updated: Mar 12, 2026
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A Method for Measuring RNA N6-methyladenosine Modifications in Cells and Tissues
Published on: December 5, 2016
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Dynamic modulation of N6-methyladenosine by ionizing radiation in human cells
L Cruz-Garcia1, Philip Davies1, Veronika Goriacha2
1UK Health Security Agency, RCCE, Chilton, Didcot, Oxford, OX11 0RQ, United Kingdom.
Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports
|March 11, 2026
Summary
Ionizing radiation (IR) dynamically alters N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation, peaking rapidly after exposure. This study reveals m6A modifications in response to radiation, offering insights into cellular responses and potential applications in radiation oncology.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Epigenetics
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Cellular gene expression is tightly regulated by various signals, including post-transcriptional modifications like RNA methylation.
- N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a prevalent RNA modification crucial for gene regulation in eukaryotes and implicated in cancer development.
- Understanding RNA methylation dynamics in response to external stimuli like ionizing radiation (IR) is vital for cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize m6A RNA modifications in response to ionizing radiation (IR) exposure in human cells.
- To investigate the dynamic changes in m6A sites following IR and identify specific genes affected.
- To explore the mechanistic role of key m6A regulatory enzymes in IR-induced methylation changes.
Main Methods:
- HT1080 human cell lines were exposed to 10 Gy X-rays, with samples collected at various time points post-exposure.
- m6A sites were identified using long-read nanopore direct RNA sequencing.
- A bioinformatics pipeline (m6Anet) and beta-binomial regression were employed to analyze transcriptome-wide m6A stoichiometries and detect differentially methylated sites.
Main Results:
- IR exposure induced dynamic, site-specific increases in m6A methylation, peaking within the first minute.
- The UQCR10 gene exhibited stable hypermethylation post-IR, confirmed by qPCR.
- Knockout cell lines for METTL3, YTHDF2, and FTO showed reduced global RNA methylation after IR exposure.
- m6A modifications, including UQCR10 hypermethylation, were also observed in human skin biopsies post-IR.
Conclusions:
- Ionizing radiation significantly modulates RNA m6A levels in a dynamic and site-specific manner.
- Differentially methylated sites were enriched in genes related to bioenergetics, cell signaling, and apoptosis, indicating a rapid cellular response to radiation.
- These findings highlight the potential role of IR-driven m6A modifications in radiation oncology and protection strategies.
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