N-1-methyladenosine methylome in messenger RNA and non-coding RNA

摘要

Chemical modifications to rRNA, tRNA and mRNA provide a new regulatory layer of gene expression, which is termed as the 'epitranscriptome'. N-1-methyladenosine (m(1)A), first characterized more than 50 years ago, is a well-known modification in rRNA and tRNA. m(1)A in these abundant non coding RNAs plays important roles in maintaining their biological functions. Recent studies also reveal that m(1)A is present in both nuclear-encoded and mitochondrial-encoded mRNA and is dynamically regulated by environmental and developmental conditions; m(1)A is found in a subset of nuclear encoded long non-coding RNAs as well. Finally, we also discuss the potential challenges of identifying m(1)A modification in the human transcriptome.