Biological roles of the RNA m6A modification and its implications in cancer

Abstract

The N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) modification of RNA transcripts is the most prevalent and abundant internal modification in eukaryotic messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and plays diverse and important roles in normal biological processes. Extensive studies have indicated that dysregulated m6A modification and m6A-associated proteins play critical roles in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. However, m6A-mediated physiological consequences often lead to opposite outcomes in a biological context-dependent manner. Therefore, context-related complexity must be meaningfully considered to obtain a comprehensive understanding of RNA methylation. Recently, it has been reported that m6A-modified RNAs are closely related to the regulation of the DNA damage response and genomic integrity maintenance. Here, we present an overview of the current knowledge on the m6A modification and its function in human cancer, particularly in relation to the DNA damage response and genomic instability.