Epigenetic Regulation of m6A Modifications in Human Cancer

Wei Zhao; Xiaoqian Qi; Lina Liu; Shiqing Ma; Jingwen Liu; Jie Wu

doi:10.1016/j.omtn.2019.11.022

Epigenetic Regulation of m⁶A Modifications in Human Cancer

Mol Ther Nucleic Acids. 2020 Mar 6:19:405-412. doi: 10.1016/j.omtn.2019.11.022. Epub 2019 Nov 29.

Authors

Wei Zhao¹, Xiaoqian Qi¹, Lina Liu², Shiqing Ma³, Jingwen Liu⁴, Jie Wu⁵

Affiliations

¹ The School and Hospital of Stomatology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, P.R. China.
² Department of Prosthodontics, Tianjin Stomatological Hospital, Hospital of Stomatology, NanKai University, Tianjin 300041, P.R. China.
³ The School and Hospital of Stomatology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, P.R. China. Electronic address: mashiqing@tmu.edu.cn.
⁴ The School and Hospital of Stomatology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, P.R. China. Electronic address: liujingwen@tmu.edu.cn.
⁵ The School and Hospital of Stomatology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, P.R. China. Electronic address: wujiedoctor@tmu.edu.cn.

Abstract

N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is the most prevalent internal RNA modification, especially within eukaryotic messenger RNAs (mRNAs). m⁶A modifications of RNA regulate splicing, translocation, stability, and translation into proteins. m⁶A modifications are catalyzed by RNA methyltransferases, such as METTL3, METTL14, and WTAP (writers); the modifications are removed by the demethylases fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) and ALKBH5 (ALKB homolog 5) (erasers); and the modifications are recognized by m⁶A-binding proteins, such as YTHDF domain-containing proteins and IGF2BPs (readers). Abnormal changes in the m⁶A levels of these genes are closely related to tumor occurrence and development. In this paper, we review the role of m⁶A in human cancer and summarize its prospective applications in cancer.

Keywords: N6-methyladenosine; RNA methylation; cancer; epigenetic; m(6)A.

Publication types

Review