1. Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital & Chongqing Cancer Institute & Chongqing Cancer Hospital, Chongqing 400030, China
2. Chongqing Specialized Medical Research Center of Ovarian Cancer, Chongqing 400030, China
3. Organoid Transformational Research Center, Chongqing Key Laboratory for the Mechanism and Intervention of Cancer Metastasis, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing 400030, China
4. Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA 91016, USA;
5. Center for RNA Biology and Therapeutics, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA 91016, USA
Corresponding author:
cqzl_zdl@163.com
rsu@coh.org
Show less
History+
Received
Accepted
Published Online
2025-07-17
2026-01-29
2026-06-10
PDF
(1541KB)
Abstract
RNA modifications are essential in regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Recent studies, including our own, have highlighted that RNA modifications, such as N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and methyl-5-cytosine (m5C), play a crucial role in tumorigenesis, metabolism, and anti-tumor immunity. Targeting RNA modification machinery may represent a promising therapeutic strategy in cancer. Intriguingly, emerging evidence reveals numerous modifications in mitochondrial RNA (mt-RNA), expanding the concept of epitranscriptomics to mitochondria. The mammalian mitochondrion possesses its own genome, which encodes 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and 13 proteins necessary for energy production via oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos). The mitochondrial transcriptome is produced from large polycistronic transcripts, implying that mitochondrial gene expression is predominantly regulated post-transcriptionally. In this review, we summarize all currently known mt-RNA modifications, their potential regulatory machinery, as well as their biological functions in tumorigenesis and metabolism. Additionally, given that this field is still in its infancy, we discuss several critical knowledge gaps and propose future research directions to clarify the mechanistic and clinical significance in the study of mt-RNA modifications.
This article has successfully passed peer review and final editorial review, and will soon enter typesetting, proofreading and other publishing processes. The currently displayed version is the accepted final manuscript. The officially published version will be updated with format, DOI and citation information upon launch. We recommend that you pay attention to subsequent journal notifications and preferentially cite the officially published version. Thank you for your support and cooperation.
PDF
(1541KB)
