Diverse roles of YTHDC1 in chromatin and blood cancers

Area of Science:

• Epitranscriptomics
• RNA Biology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Over 170 RNA modifications exist, with N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) being a key regulator of gene expression, splicing, and translation.
• m⁶A modifications are primarily read by cytoplasmic factors, with YTHDC1 being a notable nuclear-localized reader.
• YTHDC1's function extends to regulating genome activity through chromatin-associated mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the nuclear functions of YTHDC1 in the context of m⁶A RNA modifications.
• To highlight YTHDC1's roles in chromatin regulation and nuclear condensate formation.
• To discuss the implications of these processes in normal and cancer cells.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of epitranscriptomics and RNA modification studies.
• Focus on nuclear-localized m⁶A reader YTHDC1.
• Analysis of YTHDC1's interaction with chromatin and its role in nuclear structure formation.

Main Results:

• YTHDC1 mediates m⁶A-dependent regulation of gene expression within the nucleus.
• YTHDC1 influences genome activity through short and long-range chromatin-associated mechanisms.
• YTHDC1 can assemble into higher-order nuclear structures known as condensates.

Conclusions:

• YTHDC1 plays a critical role in nuclear RNA epitranscriptomics and genome regulation.
• The chromatin-associated functions and condensate formation of YTHDC1 are significant in cellular processes.
• Dysregulation of YTHDC1-mediated processes occurs in cancer cells, suggesting potential therapeutic targets.