DNA N6-methyladenine in metazoans: functional epigenetic mark or bystander?
Abstract
The DNA-adenine modification N 6-methyladenine (6mA), initially thought to be mainly restricted to prokaryotes and certain unicellular eukaryotes, has recently been found in metazoans. Proposed functions vary from gene activation to transposon suppression. However, since most metazoan genomes possess 5-methylcytosine (5mC) as a dominant epigenetic mark, it raises the question of why 6mA is required. This Perspective summarizes the latest discoveries and suggests potential functional roles for 6mA in metazoan genomes.
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The genome-wide distribution of 6mA is species-specific, with no conserved pattern across the eukaryotic species analyzed to date.
“Interestingly, the genome-wide distribution of 6mA is species-specific with lack of a conserved pattern across the eukaryotic species analyzed to date (59).”
From Dynamic DNA methylation: In the right place at the right time (2018) · cites this paper as [59]
Compelling multimodal evidence has been presented for the existence of 6mA in mouse and human genomes.
“Compelling multimodal evidence has been presented for the existence of 6mA in mouse and human genomes.”
From Dynamic DNA methylation: In the right place at the right time (2018) · cites this paper as [59]
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Dynamic DNA methylation: In the right place at the right time
Luo, C., Hajkova, P., & Ecker, J. R. (2018) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.aat6806 · Cited by 668 · see citing works
- Authors
- Luo, G.-Z., & He, C.
- Affiliations
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute (US)
- Corresponding author
- He, Chuan
- Venue
- Nature Structural & Molecular Biology
- Published
- 2017-06
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 503-506
- ISSN
- 1545-9985 (ISSN-L)
- 1545-9993
- OpenAlex
- W2622082928
- Cited by
- 87
- References
- 49
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 4.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature Structural & Molecular Biology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA modifications and cancer
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
- Keywords
- N6-methyladenine, DNA methylation, 6mA, 5-methylcytosine, epigenetic modifications, metazoan genomes, gene activation, transposon suppression, DNA modification
- MeSH terms
- Adenine, Animals, DNA, Site-Specific DNA-Methyltransferase (Adenine-Specific), Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Epigenesis, Genetic
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