RNAs molecules fulfill key roles in the expression and regulation of the genetic information stored within the DNA chromosomes. In addition to the four canonical bases, U, C, A and G, RNAs harbor various chemically modified derivatives which are generated post-transcriptionally by specific enzymes acting directly at the polymer level. More than one hundred naturally occurring modified nucleosides have been identified to date, the largest number of which is found in tRNAs and rRNA. This remarkable biochemical process produces widely diversified RNAs further expanding the functional repertoires of these nucleic acids. Interestingly, several RNA-modifying enzymes use a flavin bioorganic molecule as a coenzyme in RNA modification pathways. Some of these reactions are simple while others are extremely complex using challenging chemistry orchestrated by large flavoenzymatic systems. In this review, we summarize recent knowledges on the flavin-dependent RNA-modifying enzymes and discuss the relevance of their activity within a cellular context.
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