N6-methyladenosine modifications: interactions with novel RNA-binding proteins and roles in signal transduction

Jiaxin Chen; Xiao Fang; Pengcheng Zhong; Zhangfa Song; Xiaotong Hu

doi:10.1080/15476286.2019.1620060

N6-methyladenosine modifications: interactions with novel RNA-binding proteins and roles in signal transduction

RNA Biol. 2019 Aug;16(8):991-1000. doi: 10.1080/15476286.2019.1620060. Epub 2019 May 26.

Authors

Jiaxin Chen¹, Xiao Fang², Pengcheng Zhong¹, Zhangfa Song³, Xiaotong Hu¹

Affiliations

¹ a Biomedical Research Center and Key Laboratory of Biotherapy of Zhejiang Province , Sir Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou , China.
² b Department of Anesthesiology and Key Laboratory of Biotherapy of Zhejiang Province , Sir Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou , China.
³ c Department of Colorectal Surgery and Key Laboratory of Biotherapy of Zhejiang Province , Sir Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou , China.

Abstract

RNA epigenetics has received a great deal of attention in recent years, and the reversible N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification on messenger RNAs (mRNAs) has emerged as a widespread phenomenon. The vital roles of m6A in diverse biological processes are dependent on many RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) with 'reader' or 'nonreader' functions. Moreover, m6A effector proteins affect cellular processes, such as stem cell differentiation, tumor development and the immune response by controlling signal transduction. This review provides an overview of the interactions of m6A with various RBPs, including the 'reader' proteins (excluding the YT521-B homology (YTH) domain proteins and the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs)), and the functional 'nonreader' proteins, and this review focuses on their specific RNA-binding domains and their associations with other m6A effectors. Furthermore, we summarize key m6A-marked targets in distinct signaling pathways, leading to a better understanding of the cellular m6A machinery.

Keywords: M6a reader; RNA-binding protein; protein domain; signaling pathway.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Adenosine / analogs & derivatives*
Adenosine / genetics
Epigenomics*
Humans
RNA, Messenger / genetics*
RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
Signal Transduction / genetics

Substances

RNA, Messenger
RNA-Binding Proteins
N-methyladenosine
Adenosine

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation, China [grant number 81672362];National Natural Science Foundation of China [81672362].