AUTHOR=Qu Fei , Tsegay Pawlos S. , Liu Yuan 

TITLE=N6-Methyladenosine, DNA Repair, and Genome Stability

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/molecular-biosciences/articles/10.3389/fmolb.2021.645823

DOI=10.3389/fmolb.2021.645823

ISSN=2296-889X

ABSTRACT=<p>N<sup>6</sup>-methyladenosine (m<sup>6</sup>A) modification in mRNAs and non-coding RNAs is a newly identified epitranscriptomic mark. It provides a fine-tuning of gene expression to serve as a cellular response to endogenous and exogenous stimuli. m<sup>6</sup>A is involved in regulating genes in multiple cellular pathways and functions, including circadian rhythm, cell renewal, differentiation, neurogenesis, immunity, among others. Disruption of m<sup>6</sup>A regulation is associated with cancer, obesity, and immune diseases. Recent studies have shown that m<sup>6</sup>A can be induced by oxidative stress and DNA damage to regulate DNA repair. Also, deficiency of the m<sup>6</sup>A eraser, fat mass obesity-associated protein (FTO) can increase cellular sensitivity to genotoxicants. These findings shed light on the novel roles of m<sup>6</sup>A in modulating DNA repair and genome integrity and stability through responding to DNA damage. In this mini-review, we discuss recent progress in the understanding of a unique role of m<sup>6</sup>As in mRNAs, lncRNAs, and microRNAs in DNA damage response and regulation of DNA repair and genome integrity and instability.</p>