Regulation of RNA N<sup>6</sup>-methyladenosine modification and its emerging roles in skeletal muscle development
Jiju Li, Yangli Pei, Rong Zhou, Zhonglin Tang, Yalan Yang
Abstract
N 6 -methyladenosine (m 6 A) is one of the most widespread and highly conserved chemical modifications in cellular RNAs of eukaryotic genomes. Owing to the development of high-throughput m 6 A sequencing, the functions and mechanisms of m 6 A modification in development and diseases have been revealed. Recent studies have shown that RNA m 6 A methylation plays a critical role in skeletal muscle development, which regulates myoblast proliferation and differentiation, and muscle regeneration. Exploration of the functions of m 6 A modification and its regulators provides a deeper understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle development. In the present review, we aim to summarize recent breakthroughs concerning the global landscape of m 6 A modification in mammals and examine the biological functions and mechanisms of enzymes regulating m 6 A RNA methylation. We describe the interplay between m 6 A and other epigenetic modifications and highlight the regulatory roles of m 6 A in development, especially that of skeletal muscle. m 6 A and its regulators are expected to be targets for the treatment of human muscle-related diseases and novel epigenetic markers for animal breeding in meat production.