AUTHOR=Li Peipei , Wang Yuntao , Sun Yiwen , Jiang Sanjie , Li Jingjing 

TITLE=N6-methyladenosine RNA methylation: From regulatory mechanisms to potential clinical applications

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cell-and-developmental-biology/articles/10.3389/fcell.2022.1055808

DOI=10.3389/fcell.2022.1055808

ISSN=2296-634X

ABSTRACT=<p>Epitranscriptomics has emerged as another level of epigenetic regulation similar to DNA and histone modifications. <italic>N</italic><sup>6</sup>-methyladenosine (m<sup>6</sup>A) is one of the most prevalent and abundant posttranscriptional modifications, widely distributed in many biological species. The level of <italic>N</italic><sup>6</sup>-methyladenosine RNA methylation is dynamically and reversibly regulated by distinct effectors including methyltransferases, demethylases, histone modification and metabolites. In addition, <italic>N</italic><sup>6</sup>-methyladenosine RNA methylation is involved in multiple RNA metabolism pathways, such as splicing, localization, translation efficiency, stability and degradation, ultimately affecting various pathological processes, especially the oncogenic and tumor-suppressing activities. Recent studies also reveal that <italic>N</italic><sup>6</sup>-methyladenosine modification exerts the function in immune cells and tumor immunity. In this review, we mainly focus on the regulatory mechanisms of <italic>N</italic><sup>6</sup>-methyladenosine RNA methylation, the techniques for detecting <italic>N</italic><sup>6</sup>-methyladenosine methylation, the role of <italic>N</italic><sup>6</sup>-methyladenosine modification in cancer and other diseases, and the potential clinical applications.</p>