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REVIEW article

Front. Oncol.
Sec. Cancer Molecular Targets and Therapeutics
Volume 15 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fonc.2025.1534948

Biological functions of 5-methylcytosine RNA-binding proteins and their potential mechanisms in human cancer

Provisionally accepted
Tingting Zhao Tingting Zhao Zhe Zhang Zhe Zhang Zhuo Chen Zhuo Chen Guozheng Xu Guozheng Xu Yongxi Wang Yongxi Wang Fang Wang Fang Wang *
  • Department of Breast Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The 5-methylcytosine (m5C) modification is a crucial epigenetic RNA modification, which is involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of genes. It plays an important role in various biological processes, including cell metabolism, growth, apoptosis, and tumorigenesis. By affecting the proliferation, migration, invasion, and drug sensitivity of tumor cells, m5C methylation modification plays a vital part in the initiation and progression of tumors and is closely associated with the poor tumor prognosis. m5C-related proteins are categorized into three functional groups: m5C methyltransferases (m5C writers), m5C demethylases (m5C erasers), and m5C methyl-binding proteins (m5C readers). This paper introduces several common methodologies for detecting m5C methylation; and reviews the molecular structure and biological functions of m5C readers, including ALYREF, YBX1, YBX2, RAD52, YTHDF2, FMRP, and SRSF2. It further summarizes their roles and regulatory mechanisms in tumors, offering novel targets and insights for tumor treatment.

    Keywords: 5-Methylcytosine, m5C-binding proteins, Detection techniques, biological functions, tumor regulation

    Received: 26 Nov 2024; Accepted: 21 Jan 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Zhao, Zhang, Chen, Xu, Wang and Wang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Fang Wang, Department of Breast Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.