The role of m6A RNA methylation in cancer

Ting Sun; Ruiyan Wu; Liang Ming

doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2019.108613

The role of m6A RNA methylation in cancer

Biomed Pharmacother. 2019 Apr:112:108613. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2019.108613. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Authors

Ting Sun¹, Ruiyan Wu², Liang Ming³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China. Electronic address: suntingcindy@163.com.
² Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China.
³ Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China. Electronic address: mingliangzzu@163.com.

PMID: 30784918
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2019.108613

Abstract

N6-methyladenosine (m6A), the most abundant internal modification of RNA in eukaryotic cells, has gained increasing attention in recent years. The m6A modification affects multiple aspects of RNA metabolism, ranging from RNA processing, nuclear export, RNA translation to decay. Emerging evidence suggests that m6A methylation plays a critical role in cancer through various mechanisms. Moreover, m6A methylation has provided more possibilities for the early diagnosis and treatment of cancers. In this review, we focus on m6A-associated mechanisms and functions in several major malignancies and summarize the dual role of m6A methylation as well as its prospects in cancer.

Keywords: Cancer; N6-methyladenosine; RNA methylation; m6A.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adenosine / analogs & derivatives*
Adenosine / physiology
Animals
Humans
Methylation
Neoplasms / genetics*
Neoplasms / metabolism*
RNA / genetics*
RNA / metabolism*

Substances

RNA
N-methyladenosine
Adenosine