The regulatory role of N 6 -methyladenosine modification in the interaction between host and microbes.

N ⁶ -methyladenosine (m ⁶ A) is the most prevalent posttranscriptional modification in eukaryotic mRNAs. Dynamic and reversible m ⁶ A modification regulates gene expression to control cellular processes and diverse biological functions. Growing evidence indicated that m ⁶ A modification is involved in the homeostasis of host and microbes (mostly viruses and bacteria). Disturbance of m ⁶ A modification affects the life cycles of viruses and bacteria, however, these microbes could in turn change host m ⁶ A modification leading to human disease including autoimmune diseases and cancer. Thus, we raise the concept that m ⁶ A could be a "messenger" molecule to participate in the interactions between host and microbes. In this review, we summarize the regulatory mechanisms of m ⁶ A modification on viruses and commensal microbiota, highlight the roles of m ⁶ A methylation in the interaction of host and microbes, and finally discuss drugs development targeting m ⁶ A modification. This article is categorized under: RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease.
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