About this Research Topic
Most RNAs (snRNAs, tRNAs, mRNAs, rRNAs, …) involved in mRNA processing and translation are decorated by numerous and diverse chemical modifications (or epitranscriptomic marks), the most frequent being methylation. These marks contribute to the efficiency, fidelity, and regulation of the protein expression mechanisms. During the last decade, the epitranscriptomics field has been very exciting, revealing the importance of these modifications in tuning mRNA fate (export, splicing, translation, and degradation) but also their crucial importance during several cellular processes such as brain development or tumorigenesis. These RNA modifications have also played a key role in the successful development of efficient RNA vaccines.
With the continuing development of highly sensitive methods (mass spectrometry, NGS, and nanopore sequencing) enabling the quantification and mapping of RNA methylation, there has been growing interest in describing and understanding the modifications present on low abundance or unstable RNAs (mRNAs, snRNAs...). This has revealed previously unknown regulatory mechanisms, as well as the importance of these small epitranscriptomic marks in essential cellular and developmental processes. This exciting and highly dynamic field is also beginning to bridge the gap between molecular events (RNA methylation), diseases (cancers, neurodevelopmental disorders, etc.), diagnosis, and treatment. This vast field is currently in the spotlight and is arousing growing interest in biological sciences. It is therefore timely to present or describe the most recent results obtained by experts in the field.
The aim of the current Research Topic is to cover promising, recent, and new research trends in the field of RNA methylation. Some of the non-exhaustive topics that could be covered in this Research Topic include:
• Detection of methylated nucleosides;
• Bacterial RNA methyltransferases and their roles in antibiotic resistance;
• Identification and structural classes of RNA methyltransferases;
• Recent progress in the understanding of methyltransferases acting on various RNAs (mRNAs, tRNAs, rRNAs, …)
• Recent progress in the development of inhibitors of RNA methyltransferases
With the continuing development of highly sensitive methods (mass spectrometry, NGS, and nanopore sequencing) enabling the quantification and mapping of RNA methylation, there has been growing interest in describing and understanding the modifications present on low abundance or unstable RNAs (mRNAs, snRNAs...). This has revealed previously unknown regulatory mechanisms, as well as the importance of these small epitranscriptomic marks in essential cellular and developmental processes. This exciting and highly dynamic field is also beginning to bridge the gap between molecular events (RNA methylation), diseases (cancers, neurodevelopmental disorders, etc.), diagnosis, and treatment. This vast field is currently in the spotlight and is arousing growing interest in biological sciences. It is therefore timely to present or describe the most recent results obtained by experts in the field.
The aim of the current Research Topic is to cover promising, recent, and new research trends in the field of RNA methylation. Some of the non-exhaustive topics that could be covered in this Research Topic include:
• Detection of methylated nucleosides;
• Bacterial RNA methyltransferases and their roles in antibiotic resistance;
• Identification and structural classes of RNA methyltransferases;
• Recent progress in the understanding of methyltransferases acting on various RNAs (mRNAs, tRNAs, rRNAs, …)
• Recent progress in the development of inhibitors of RNA methyltransferases
Keywords: structural classes of RNA methyltransferases, methylated nucleosides, methyltransferases acting on various RNAs (mRNAs, tRNAs, rRNAs), inhibitors of RNA methyltransferases
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