A review of advances in analytical strategies for RNA methylation

Abstract

N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is the most prevalent RNA methylation modification, and its dysregulation causes aberrant transcription and translation, which plays critical roles in the bouts and progression of diseases such as breast cancer, gastric carcinoma, lung cancer, and brain tumor. Molecular mechanisms and clinical applications of m⁶A RNA have been extensively studied. Various strategies have recently emerged for selectively and sensitively qualifying m⁶A RNA modifications. Although m⁶A RNA modification has been reviewed in recent years, they mainly focused on m⁶A RNA-mediated gene expression regulation and its applications, as well as traditional methods for m⁶A or m⁶A RNA. We present here a timely and comprehensive review that summarizes the recent advances in detection strategies of m⁶A RNA as well as its associated effectors of enzymes and proteins. It begins with an overview of the critical role of m⁶A RNA methylation in biological processes, followed by a detailed discussion of the recent developments in m⁶A RNA methylation. Specially, we focus on methyltransferases, demethylases, and associated proteins detection methods such as thin-layer chromatography, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, sequencing technology, fluorescence, electrochemistry, electrochemiluminescence, and photoelectrochemistry. Future challenges and opportunities are discussed, and possible directions are outlined in the field of m⁶A RNA methylation detection, providing helpful information and guidance for the design of new m⁶A RNA methylation detection strategies.

Keywords: Associated effectors; Detection; N(6)-methyladenosine; RNA methylation.