Gene

Adipogenesis

N6-Methyladenosine

RNA methylation

Methylation

Epigenetics

RNA-binding protein

Genetics

Computational biology

Biology

Methyltransferase

Cell biology

Journal of Hematology & Oncology

N 6 -methyladenosine (m 6 A) is a well-known post-transcriptional modification that is the most common type of methylation in eukaryotic mRNAs. The regulation of m 6 A is dynamic and reversible, which is erected by m 6 A methyltransferases (“writers”) and removed by m 6 A demethylases (“erasers”). Notably, the effects on targeted mRNAs resulted by m 6 A predominantly depend on the functions of different m 6 A-binding proteins (“readers”) including YT521-B homology (YTH) domain family, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (HNRNPs), and insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding proteins (IGF2BPs). Indeed, m 6 A readers not only participate in multiple procedures of RNA metabolism, but also are involved in a variety of biological processes. In this review, we summarized the specific functions and underlying mechanisms of m 6 A-binding proteins in tumorigenesis, hematopoiesis, virus replication, immune response, and adipogenesis.

m6A-binding proteins: the emerging crucial performers in epigenetics