Current insights into the implications of m6A RNA methylation and autophagy interaction in human diseases

Cell & Bioscience

Fangfang Zhang¹  Juan Wang¹  Jianan Wang¹  Muhammad Tahir¹  Xuechai Chen¹  Yuanyuan Ran²  Zongjian Liu² 

[1] Center of Excellence for Environmental Safety and Biological Effects, Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base for Antiviral Drugs, Faculty of Environment and Life, Beijing University of Technology, 100 Ping Le Yuan, Chaoyang District, 100124, Beijing, People’s Republic of China;Department of Rehabilitation, Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital, Capital Medical University, Xixiazhuang, Badachu, 100144, Beijing, People’s Republic of China;

关键词: m6A;    RNA methylation;    Autophagy;    Obesity;    Azoospermatism;    Ischemic heart disease;    Cancer;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13578-021-00661-x

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

Autophagy is a conserved degradation process crucial to maintaining the primary function of cellular and organismal metabolism. Impaired autophagy could develop numerous diseases, including cancer, cardiomyopathy, neurodegenerative disorders, and aging. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most common RNA modification in eukaryotic cells, and the fate of m6A modified transcripts is controlled by m6A RNA binding proteins. m6A modification influences mRNA alternative splicing, stability, translation, and subcellular localization. Intriguingly, recent studies show that m6A RNA methylation could alter the expression of essential autophagy-related (ATG) genes and influence the autophagy function. Thus, both m6A modification and autophagy could play a crucial role in the onset and progression of various human diseases. In this review, we summarize the latest studies describing the impact of m6A modification in autophagy regulation and discuss the role of m6A modification-autophagy axis in different human diseases, including obesity, heart disease, azoospermatism or oligospermatism, intervertebral disc degeneration, and cancer. The comprehensive understanding of the m6A modification and autophagy interplay may help in interpreting their impact on human diseases and may aid in devising future therapeutic strategies.

【 授权许可】

CC BY