Messenger RNA (mRNA) can be modified by more than 100 chemical modifications. Among these modifications, N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is one of the most prevalent modifications. During the processes of cells differentiation, embryo development or stress, m⁶A can be modified on key mRNAs and regulate the progress of cells through modulating mRNA metabolism and translation. Other mRNA modifications, including N1-methyladenosine (m¹A), 5-methylcytosine (m⁵C) and pseudouridine, together with m⁶A form the epitranscriptome of mRNA that accurately modulate the mRNA translation. Here we review the types and characteristic of mRNA epigenetic modifications, especially the recent progresses of the function of m⁶A, we also expect the main research direction of m⁶A epigenetic modification in the future.
Adenosine ; analogs & derivatives ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; genetics ; Embryonic Development ; genetics ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Gene Expression Regulation ; RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism