Review

m6A modification: a new avenue for anti-cancer therapy

  • Yongtai Bai 1 ,
  • Kai Li 1,2,3 ,
  • Jinying Peng 1 ,
  • Chengqi Yi , 1,3,4
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  • 1. State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
  • 2. Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
  • 3. Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
  • 4. Department of Chemical Biology and Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
chengqi.yi@pku.edu.cn

Received date: 08 Nov 2022

Accepted date: 21 Feb 2023

Published date: 15 Feb 2023

Copyright

2023 The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Higher Education Press.

Abstract

To date, over 170 different kinds of chemical modifications on RNAs have been identified, some of which are involved in multiple aspects of RNA fate, ranging from RNA processing, nuclear export, translation, and RNA decay. m6A, also known as N6-methyladenosine, is a prominent internal RNA modification that is catalyzed primarily by the METTL3-METTL14-WTAP methyltransferase complex in higher eukaryotic mRNA and long noncoding RNA (lncRNA). In recent years, abnormal m6A modification has been linked to the occurrence, development, progression, and prognosis of the majority of cancers. In this review, we provide an update on the most recent m6A modification discoveries as well as the critical roles of m6A modification in cancer development and progression. We summarize the mechanisms of m6A involvement in cancer and list potential cancer therapy inhibitors that target m6A regulators such as “writer” METTL3 and “eraser” FTO.

Cite this article

Yongtai Bai , Kai Li , Jinying Peng , Chengqi Yi . m6A modification: a new avenue for anti-cancer therapy[J]. Life Medicine, 2023 , 2(1) : 7 . DOI: 10.1093/lifemedi/lnad008

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