N6-methyladenine RNA modification and cancers.

ABSTRACT

Similar to DNA methylation modifications, N6-methyladenine (m6A) has been identified as a dynamic and reversible modification in messenger RNA (mRNA), regulated by m6A methyltransferases and demethylases. m6A modifications regulate gene expressions and play vital roles in many life processes. Some proteins serve as m6A-binding proteins to perform the m6A-modified biological functions. Recently, m6A modifications have been reported to play critical roles in human cancers, including lung cancer, brain tumor, leukemia, and many others. In this comprehensive review, we have described the roles played by m6A modifications of mRNA in the development of cancers. These modifications appear to have an oncogenic role in some cancers while a tumor-suppressor role in others. Therefore, it would be of great significance to study the biological functions of genes regulated by m6A in different cancers and identify the key m6A target genes to understand the potential mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of cancer.