Regulation of Gene Expression by N6-methyladenosine in Cancer

m 6A is the most abundant mRNA modification and it regulates many aspects of RNA metabolism, including RNA splicing, export, translation, and decay. Numerous recent studies indicate an important role for m 6A in regulating gene expression in multiple physiologic processes, such as stress responses, stem cell differentiation, gametogenesis, and T cell homeostasis. Aberrant m 6A mRNA methylation, through the altered expression of m 6A writer, eraser, or reader proteins, has also been associated with several cancers. m 6A has been reported to affect gene expression in cancer cells through many different pathways. In some studies, increased m 6A methylation appears to contribute to cancer cell tumorigenicity by enhancing translation of oncogenes or degrading tumor suppressor genes. Other studies observe that m 6A helps inhibit the expression of oncogenes, suggesting tumor suppressing roles for m 6A methylation