Title:Ramifications of m6A Modification on ncRNAs in Cancer
Volume: 25
Issue: 3
Author(s): Rashid Mehmood*
Affiliation:
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Science and General Studies, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia
Keywords:
ncRNAs, m6A modification, cancer, RNA metabolism, long con-coding RNAs, microRNAs.
Abstract: N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is an RNA modification wherein the N6-position of adenosine
is methylated. It is one of the most prevalent internal modifications of RNA and regulates
various aspects of RNA metabolism. M6A is deposited by m6A methyltransferases, removed by
m6A demethylases, and recognized by reader proteins, which modulate splicing, export, translation,
and stability of the modified mRNA. Recent evidence suggests that various classes of noncoding
RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), and long
con-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), are also targeted by this modification. Depending on the ncRNA
species, m6A may affect the processing, stability, or localization of these molecules. The m6Amodified
ncRNAs are implicated in a number of diseases, including cancer. In this review, the author
summarizes the role of m6A modification in the regulation and functions of ncRNAs in tumor
development. Moreover, the potential applications in cancer prognosis and therapeutics are discussed.