Biological functions of m6A methyltransferases

Jianzhong Gu; Yu Zhan; Lvjia Zhuo; Qin Zhang; Guohua Li; Qiujie Li; Shasha Qi; Jinyu Zhu; Qun Lv; Yingying Shen; Yong Guo; Shuiping Liu; Tian Xie; Xinbing Sui

doi:10.1186/s13578-020-00513-0

Biological functions of m⁶A methyltransferases

Cell Biosci. 2021 Jan 11;11(1):15. doi: 10.1186/s13578-020-00513-0.

Authors

Jianzhong Gu^{1

2}, Yu Zhan², Lvjia Zhuo^{1

3}, Qin Zhang^{1

3}, Guohua Li^{1

3}, Qiujie Li^{1

3}, Shasha Qi^{1

3}, Jinyu Zhu^{1

3}, Qun Lv⁴, Yingying Shen², Yong Guo², Shuiping Liu^{5

6}, Tian Xie^{7

8}, Xinbing Sui^{9

10}

Affiliations

¹ College of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China.
² Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, 54 Youdian Road, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China.
⁴ Department of Respiratory medicine, the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310015, Zhejiang, China.
⁵ College of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China. shuipingliu@zju.edu.cn.
⁶ Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China. shuipingliu@zju.edu.cn.
⁷ College of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China. xbs@hznu.edu.cn.
⁸ Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China. xbs@hznu.edu.cn.
⁹ College of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China. hzzju@zju.edu.cn.
¹⁰ Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China. hzzju@zju.edu.cn.

Abstract

M⁶A methyltransferases, acting as a writer in N6-methyladenosine, have attracted wide attention due to their dynamic regulation of life processes. In this review, we first briefly introduce the individual components of m⁶A methyltransferases and explain their close connections to each other. Then, we concentrate on the extensive biological functions of m⁶A methyltransferases, which include cell growth, nerve development, osteogenic differentiation, metabolism, cardiovascular system homeostasis, infection and immunity, and tumour progression. We summarize the currently unresolved problems in this research field and propose expectations for m⁶A methyltransferases as novel targets for preventive and curative strategies for disease treatment in the future.

Keywords: Growth and development; Infection and immunity; M6A methyltransferase; Metabolism; Tumour progression.

Publication types

Review

Abstract

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