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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Probing mRNA Kinetics in Space and Time in Escherichia coli using Two-Color Single-Molecule Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization
Published on: July 30, 2020
Quantitative single-base m6A profiling reveals dynamic reprogramming, evolutionary conservation and transcriptional
Youyue Li1, Letong Xu1, Na Liu1
1Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Biomedicine, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China.
Abstract:
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a widespread RNA modification that regulates RNA metabolism in eukaryotes, but its distribution and function in bacteria remain poorly defined. Here, we apply GLORI sequencing to generate single-base resolution transcriptome-wide m6A maps in seven bacterial species. We identify 2,845 m6A sites during exponential growth and find extensive condition-dependent methylation dynamics in three strains. In Pseudomonas syringae, m6A remodeling is associated with virulence-related pathways. Comparative analyses reveal 455 conserved m6A site pairs enriched in genes required for growth, energy metabolism, and transmembrane transport. Integrating methylation, transcript abundance, and RNA stability analyses shows that m6A is associated with reduced mRNA abundance and increased RNA stability. We further identify the rRNA methyltransferases RlmF and RlmJ as bacterial mRNA m6A writers. Together, these findings provide a quantitative atlas of bacterial m6A and establish a foundation for understanding its regulatory and evolutionary roles.
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