m6A RNA modification in transcription regulation.

Abstract

RNA modifications are prevalent among all the classes of RNA, regulate diverse biological processes, and have emerged as a key regulatory mechanism in post-transcriptional control of gene expression. They are subjected to precise spatial and temporal control and shown to be critical for the maintenance of normal development and physiology. For example, m⁶A modification of mRNA affects stability, recruitment of RNA binding protein (RBP), translation, and splicing. The deposition of m6A on the RNA happens co-transcriptionally, allowing the tight coupling between the transcription and RNA modification machinery. The m⁶A modification is affected by transcriptional dynamics, but recent insights also suggest that m⁶A machinery impacts transcription and chromatin signature.