Open AccessThe emerging role of mRNA methylation in normal and pathological behavior
Author(s) -
Engel M.,
Chen A.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
genes, brain and behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.315
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1601-183X
pISSN - 1601-1848
DOI - 10.1111/gbb.12428
Subject(s) - epigenetics , biology , gene expression , regulation of gene expression , gene , messenger rna , dna methylation , rna methylation , translation (biology) , n6 methyladenosine , rna , genetics , transcription (linguistics) , methylation , translational regulation , post transcriptional regulation , microbiology and biotechnology , methyltransferase , linguistics , philosophy
Covalent RNA modifications were recently rediscovered as abundant RNA chemical tags. Similarly to DNA epigenetic modifications, they have been proposed as essential regulators of gene expression. Here we focus on 3 of the most abundant adenosine methylations: N6‐methyladenosine (m 6 A), N6,2′‐O‐dimethyladenosine (m 6 Am) and N1‐methyladenosine (m 1 A). We review the potential role of these modifications on mature mRNA in regulating gene expression within the adult brain, nervous system function and normal and pathological behavior. Dynamic mRNA modifications, summarized as the epitranscriptome, regulate transcript maturation, translation and decay, and thus crucially determine gene expression beyond primary transcription regulation. However, the extent of this regulation in the healthy and maladapted adult brain is poorly understood. Analyzing this novel layer of gene expression control in addition to epigenetics and posttranslational regulation of proteins will be highly relevant for understanding the molecular underpinnings of behavior and psychiatric disorders.