m6A-modified circRNAs: detections, mechanisms, and prospects in cancers

Abstract

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have become a research hotspot in recent years with their universality, diversity, stability, conservativeness, and spatiotemporal specificity. N6-methyladenosine (m6A), the most abundant modification in the eukaryotic cells, is engaged in the pathophysiological processes of various diseases. An increasing amount of evidence has suggested that m6A modification is common in circRNAs and is associated with their biological functions. This review summarizes the effects of m6A modification on circRNAs and their regulation mechanisms in cancers, providing some suggestions of m6A-modified circRNAs in cancer therapy.

m6A modifications of circular RNAs in ischemia-induced retinal neovascularization

“…M 6 A modification, as an essential epigenetic regulator, has been suggested to involve in vision function and pathogenesis of ophthalmic diseases [24]. Recently, with the wide application of high-throughput sequencing technologies, there is accumulating evidence that crosstalk between m 6 A modifications and circRNAs contributes to multifaceted physiological and pathological processes [25,26]. Therefore, a better understanding of m 6 A-modified circRNAs in the pathogenesis of retinal neovascularization is warranted.…”

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) reader IGF2BP1 facilitates clear-cell renal cell carcinoma aerobic glycolysis

“…Methyltransferase installed the m 6 A modification on mRNA, including methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3), methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14), and the Wilms tumor 1-associated protein (WTAP) ( Lin et al, 2022 ; Luo et al, 2022 ). In addition, the m 6 A modification was wiped by demethylase, including obesity-associated protein (FTO) and alkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5) ( Qin et al, 2022 ; Zhai et al, 2022 ). In ccRCC, the function of m 6 A has been gradually verified.…”

Methyltransferase-like 3 aggravates endoplasmic reticulum stress in preeclampsia by targeting TMBIM6 in YTHDF2-dependent manner

“…N6-methyladenosine (m 6 A) is one of the most prevalent methylation modifications in mRNA that is involved in moderating the RNA structure, function, metabolism, and stability, thereby affecting the expression of many genes. Three types of proteins composed of “writers,” “erasers,” and “readers” are involved in the methylation modification process affecting the m 6 A levels of RNA and associated with various diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, I/R injury, and diabetes (Oerum et al 2021 ; Suo et al 2022 ; Chien et al 2021 ; Yao et al 2020 ; Qin et al 2022 ). However, whether the m 6 A modification has beneficial or harmful effects on ER stress-associated diseases remains unclear.…”