m6Asignaalireitin

m6Asignaalireitti refers to the molecular pathway involved in the regulation and signaling of N6-methyladenosine (m6A), the most abundant internal modification of messenger RNA (mRNA) in eukaryotes. This pathway encompasses the enzymes responsible for m6A modification, known as 'writers', proteins that recognize and bind to m6A marks, termed 'readers', and enzymes that remove these modifications, called 'erasers'.

The writers, primarily the METTL3-METTL14-WTAP complex, catalyze the addition of the methyl group to the adenine base at the sixth position. This m6A mark can then be recognized by reader proteins, such as YTH domain-containing proteins (YTHDF1, YTHDF2, YTHDF3, YTHDC1, YTHDC2), IGF2BP proteins, and HNRNPs. These readers mediate various downstream effects, including influencing mRNA stability, translation efficiency, splicing, and nuclear export. Erasers, such as FTO and ALKBH5, are responsible for demethylating m6A residues, thereby reversing the modification and its associated functional outcomes.

Dysregulation of the m6A signaling pathway has been implicated in a wide range of biological processes, including embryonic development, stem cell differentiation, immune response, and neuronal function. Furthermore, aberrant m6A modification patterns are increasingly recognized as contributing factors in various diseases, particularly cancer, where they can affect oncogene and tumor suppressor gene expression. Research into the m6A signaling pathway is rapidly expanding, offering potential therapeutic targets for diseases associated with m6A dysregulation.