When N7-methyladenosine modification meets cancer: Emerging frontiers and promising therapeutic opportunities

Dan Du; Jing He; Chenxi Ju; Chang Wang; Hongle Li; Fucheng He; Mingxia Zhou

doi:10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216165

When N⁷-methyladenosine modification meets cancer: Emerging frontiers and promising therapeutic opportunities

Cancer Lett. 2023 May 28:562:216165. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216165. Epub 2023 Apr 5.

Authors

Dan Du¹, Jing He², Chenxi Ju¹, Chang Wang¹, Hongle Li³, Fucheng He⁴, Mingxia Zhou⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
² Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
³ Department of Molecular Pathology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450008, Henan, China.
⁴ Department of Medical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China. Electronic address: hefucheng@zzu.edu.cn.
⁵ Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China. Electronic address: mingxiazhou0906@163.com.

PMID: 37028699
DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216165

Abstract

N⁷-methylguanosine (m⁷G) methylation, one of the most common RNA modifications in eukaryotes, has recently gained considerable attention. The biological functions of m⁷G modification in RNAs, including tRNA, rRNA, mRNA, and miRNA, remain largely unknown in human diseases. Owing to rapid advances in high-throughput technologies, increasing evidence suggests that m⁷G modification plays a critical role in cancer initiation and progression. As m⁷G modification and hallmarks of cancer are inextricably linked together, targeting m⁷G regulators may provide new possibilities for future cancer diagnoses and potential intervention targets. This review summarizes various detection methods for m⁷G modification, recent advances in m⁷G modification and tumor biology regarding their interplay and regulatory mechanisms. We conclude with an outlook on the future of diagnosing and treating m⁷G-related diseases.

Keywords: Cancer progression; METTL1; N(7)-methylguanosine (m(7)G); RNA modification; WDR4.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Humans
Methylation
MicroRNAs*
Neoplasms* / diagnosis
Neoplasms* / genetics
Neoplasms* / therapy
RNA, Messenger / genetics
RNA, Transfer / genetics
RNA, Transfer / metabolism

Substances

RNA, Messenger
RNA, Transfer
MicroRNAs