RNA Methylation

What Is RNA Methylation?

RNA methylation is a reversible post-translational modification to RNA that epigenetically impacts numerous biological processes and regulates gene expression. It occurs in different RNAs, including tRNA, rRNA, mRNA, tmRNA, snRNA, snoRNA, miRNA, and viral RNA. Different catalytic strategies are employed for RNA methylation by a variety of RNA-methyltransferases.

What Are Some Specific RNA Modifications?

N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is the most common and abundant methylation modification in RNA molecules present in eukaryotes and accounts for more than 80% of all RNA methylation. It may be referred to as the “fifth RNA base” and has broad roles in regulating embryonic development and cell fates. In particular, m6A methylation is thought to be important for messenger RNA (mRNA) regulation due to enrichment of m⁶A at 3’UTRs. It has also been linked to cancers, including leukemia, breast cancer, and prostate cancer.

N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A)

5-methylcytosine (5-mC) in RNA is a post-transcriptional epigenetic mark that is also found to be stable and common in various RNA molecules. Researchers are able to perform RNA bisulfite conversion and RT-PCR amplification, as well as cloning, and sequencing to gain information about RNA cytosine methylation states. By treating RNA with bisulfite, cytosine residues are deaminated to uracil while leaving 5-methylcytosine intact.

Recent data strongly suggest that m⁶A and 5-mC RNA methylation affects the regulation of various biological processes such as RNA stability and mRNA translation, and that abnormal RNA methylation contributes to etiology of human diseases. Furthermore, loss of 5-mC in vault RNAs causes aberrant processing into Argonaute-associated small RNA fragments that can function as microRNAs. Researchers continue to investigate m6A and 5-mC in RNA to uncover the mysteries of RNA methylation.

To assist you with your studies, EpigenTek offers a complete line of convenient kits to study both RNA and 5-mC methylation. Our product line includes ELISA kits to quickly measure global levels of m6A or 5mC in RNA, meRIP kits to enrich and capture m6A RNA, and ELISA-based assays to rapidly measure m6A methylase activity and m6A demethylase activity.

For additional reading on RNA methylation, check out:

• Benchtop Tip/Guide for RNA Methylation
• How CUT&RUN Helps Improve Methylated RNA Immunoprecipitation
• The Role of m6A RNA Modification in Cancer
• End-to-End Workflow for Viral and Host RNA Modification Analysis
• A Review on the Emerging Field of m6A RNA Methylation