{"title":"Unraveling brain complexity: from single-cell to spatial m<sup>6</sup>A technologies.","authors":"Shuangshuang Feng, Magdalena J Koziol","doi":"10.1016/j.tig.2025.06.010","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The brain's complexity arises from diverse cell types varying spatially and temporally. N<sup>6</sup>-methyladenosine (m<sup>6</sup>A), the most abundant mRNA modification, regulates gene expression and cellular function. While bulk sequencing studies have provided foundational insights, they obscure m<sup>6</sup>A heterogeneity across cell types and brain regions. Recent advances in single-cell and spatial m<sup>6</sup>A detection technologies have revolutionized our understanding, enabling the exploration of cell-type-specific and spatial m<sup>6</sup>A landscapes. This review discusses the limitations of bulk approaches and highlights emerging single-cell and spatial technologies. We also provide a forward-looking perspective on how technological improvements can further uncover m<sup>6</sup>A's role in brain complexity, offering new opportunities to develop targeted therapies for cell-type-specific m<sup>6</sup>A-marked RNAs.</p>","PeriodicalId":54413,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Genetics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":16.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Trends in Genetics","FirstCategoryId":"99","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tig.2025.06.010","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"GENETICS & HEREDITY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The brain's complexity arises from diverse cell types varying spatially and temporally. N6-methyladenosine (m6A), the most abundant mRNA modification, regulates gene expression and cellular function. While bulk sequencing studies have provided foundational insights, they obscure m6A heterogeneity across cell types and brain regions. Recent advances in single-cell and spatial m6A detection technologies have revolutionized our understanding, enabling the exploration of cell-type-specific and spatial m6A landscapes. This review discusses the limitations of bulk approaches and highlights emerging single-cell and spatial technologies. We also provide a forward-looking perspective on how technological improvements can further uncover m6A's role in brain complexity, offering new opportunities to develop targeted therapies for cell-type-specific m6A-marked RNAs.
期刊介绍：
Launched in 1985, Trends in Genetics swiftly established itself as a "must-read" for geneticists, offering concise, accessible articles covering a spectrum of topics from developmental biology to evolution. This reputation endures, making TiG a cherished resource in the genetic research community. While evolving with the field, the journal now embraces new areas like genomics, epigenetics, and computational genetics, alongside its continued coverage of traditional subjects such as transcriptional regulation, population genetics, and chromosome biology.
Despite expanding its scope, the core objective of TiG remains steadfast: to furnish researchers and students with high-quality, innovative reviews, commentaries, and discussions, fostering an appreciation for advances in genetic research. Each issue of TiG presents lively and up-to-date Reviews and Opinions, alongside shorter articles like Science & Society and Spotlight pieces. Invited from leading researchers, Reviews objectively chronicle recent developments, Opinions provide a forum for debate and hypothesis, and shorter articles explore the intersection of genetics with science and policy, as well as emerging ideas in the field. All articles undergo rigorous peer-review.
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