N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification in osteosarcoma: expression, function and interaction with noncoding RNAs – an updated review

Abstract

Osteosarcoma, originating from primitive bone-forming mesenchymal cells, is the most common malignant bone tumour among children and adolescents. N6-methyladenosine (m6A), the most ubiquitous type of posttranscriptional modification, is a methylation that occurs in the N6-position of adenosine. m6A dramatically affects the splicing, export, translation, and stability of various RNAs, including mRNA and noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). Increasing evidence suggests that ncRNAs, especially microRNAs (miRNA), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), regulate the m6A modification process by affecting the expression of m6A-associated enzymes. m6A modification interactions with ncRNAs provide new perspectives for exploring the underlying mechanisms of tumorigenesis and progression. In the current review, we summarized the expression and biological functions of m6A regulators in osteosarcoma. At the same time, the present review systematically elucidated the functional and mechanical interactions between m6A modification and ncRNAs in osteosarcoma. In addition, we discussed the effect of m6A and ncRNAs in the tumour microenvironment and potential clinical applications of osteosarcoma.

ALKBH5-mediated m6A modification of circFOXP1 promotes gastric cancer progression by regulating SOX4 expression and sponging miR-338-3p

“…Recently, an accumulating body of studies has revealed the mutual regulatory effects of m6A modifications and circRNAs and found that N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-driven endogenous ncRNA translation has a series of impacts on tumor progression 14 . In tumors, the m6A level of several endogenous circRNAs was tested, and the results showed that the m6A motif was abundant in circRNAs and that m6A modification regulated the function of circRNAs 15 . Currently, the roles of m6A in circRNAs are mainly related to several factors, including the biogenesis of circRNAs, cytoplasmic export of circRNAs, degradation of circRNAs, and translation of circRNAs.…”