The rise of epitranscriptomics: recent developments and future directions.

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Publication Year:
2024
Authors:
PubMed ID:
38103979
Public Summary:
Epitranscriptomics is a field of biology that encompasses chemical modifications of RNA molecules and their regulation in development, homeostasis, and disease. RNA modifications fine tune gene expression by modulating RNA stability, degradation, protein translation, and other properties. In recent years, state-of-the-art technologies for detecting RNA modifications have been developed, enabling a tremendous growth of the epitranscriptomics field. In this publication, we discuss key developments in the field and how they shape our understanding of RNA function and gene expression. We also consider how the epitranscriptome becomes dysregulated in human diseases and highlight the potential for epitranscriptomic drug development for treating cancer and other diseases.
Scientific Abstract:
The epitranscriptomics field has undergone tremendous growth since the discovery that the RNA N(6)-methyladenosine (m(6)A) modification is reversible and is distributed throughout the transcriptome. Efforts to map RNA modifications transcriptome-wide and reshape the epitranscriptome in disease settings have facilitated mechanistic understanding and drug discovery in the field. In this review we discuss recent advancements in RNA modification detection methods and consider how these developments can be applied to gain novel insights into the epitranscriptome. We also highlight drug discovery efforts aimed at developing epitranscriptomic therapeutics for cancer and other diseases. Finally, we consider engineering of the epitranscriptome as an emerging direction to investigate RNA modifications and their causal effects on RNA processing at high specificity.