The Role of N <sup>6</sup> ‐Methyladenosine Modification in Health and Disease
ABSTRACT Emerging evidence highlights that N 6 ‐methyladenosine (m 6 A), the most prevalent internal RNA modification in eukaryotes, serves as a critical epitranscriptomic regulator of RNA metabolism. This posttranscriptional modification modulates alternative splicing, nuclear export, stability, and translation, thereby regulating various physiological processes. Notably, dysregulation of m 6 A‐associated modifiers (writers/erasers/readers) is implicated in a variety of diseases, such as metabolic disorders and cancer. Despite the rapid progress of m 6 A‐mediated emerging therapeutic strategies, there remains an imperative to bridge the gap between basic epitranscriptomics and clinical application. This review systematically depicts recent advances in understanding m 6 A‐mediated epitranscriptomic regulation, with particular focus on its dual role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and driving disease progression upon dysregulation, provides a dedicated exploration of m 6 A‐regulated mitochondrial remodeling, and outlines cutting‐edge technologies for m 6 A mapping and inhibitors targeting m 6 A modifiers. Furthermore, we conduct an in‐depth exploration of the existing limitations and therapeutic potential associated with targeting m 6 A modification. Acting as a pivotal link between epitranscriptomics and medicine, m 6 A modification provides novel perspectives for developing precision interventions in complex human diseases.
Institutions
- Zhejiang Normal University (CN)
- Taizhou Municipal Hospital (CN)
- Zhejiang Institute of Science and Technology Information (CN)
- Zhejiang University of Technology (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- MedComm
- Published
- 2026-05-18
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/mco2.70767
- Primary Topic
- RNA modifications and cancer
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province