"Central dogma" is the theoretical basis of modern biology.In most cases,the genetic information is encoded by DNA.It flows from DNA to RNA via transcription,and from RNA to protein via translation.With the in-depth study,people have realized that RNA is likely the core of the central dogma.It not only acts as a bridge for genetic information from DNA to protein,but also tunes genes expression in more precise and efficient manners via post-transcriptional regulation.RNA modification plays the leading role in post-transcriptional regulation.The research on all kinds of RNA modifications and their modifiers,de-modifiers and binding proteins has been one of the most attractive area in biological science,known as RNA epigenetics or epitranscriptomics.N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the best studied RNA modification so far.This article introduces the regulatory role of m6A in stem cell pluripotency and differentiation,virus infection and self-replication,and fruit fly sex determination.Meanwhile,the role of RNA modification in the regulation of other life processes is being revealed constantly,indicating that the research of RNA modification will affect the development of medical,pharmaceutical,even agriculture.%中心法则是现代生物学的理论基础之一.绝大部分生命体将遗传信息储存在DNA中,遗传信息通过转录流向RNA,再通过翻译流向蛋白质.随着研究的深入,人们逐渐认识到RNA不只充当了遗传信息由DNA流向蛋白质的桥梁,RNA层面的转录后调控过程还对基因表达进行了更为精准高效的调节,RNA在中心法则中的核心地位越来越突出.在转录后调控过程中,RNA修饰起到了至关重要的作用.对RNA修饰及其修饰酶、脱修饰酶和结合蛋白的研究已成为一个引入瞩目的新方向——RNA表观遗传学/表观转录组学.N6-甲基腺嘌呤(m6A)是目前研究最为深入的RNA修饰.本文着重介绍m6A修饰对干细胞的分化过程的调控,对病毒侵染宿主和自我复制过程的影响,以及m6A在果蝇性别决定中起到的关键作用.RNA修饰对于其他各种生命过程的影响也在不断地被揭示出来,预示着RNA修饰的研究必将深刻地影响医疗、制药,乃至农业的发展.
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