Extensive translation of circular RNAs driven by N6-methyladenosine
East China University of Science and Technology · Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science · +5 more institutions
Abstract
Extensive pre-mRNA back-splicing generates numerous circular RNAs (circRNAs) in human transcriptome. However, the biological functions of these circRNAs remain largely unclear. Here we report that N6-methyladenosine (m6A), the most abundant base modification of RNA, promotes efficient initiation of protein translation from circRNAs in human cells. We discover that consensus m6A motifs are enriched in circRNAs and a single m6A site is sufficient to drive translation initiation. This m6A-driven translation requires initiation factor eIF4G2 and m6A reader YTHDF3, and is enhanced by methyltransferase METTL3/14, inhibited by demethylase FTO, and upregulated upon heat shock. Further analyses through polysome…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 66.94
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 49
Authors
13- YYYun YangCorresponding
East China University of Science and Technology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Zhejiang University, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- XFXiaojuan Fan
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science
- MMMiaowei Mao
East China University of Science and Technology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- XSXiaowei Song
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science
- PWPing Wu
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science
Topics & keywords
- Biology
- N6-Methyladenosine
- Translation (biology)
- Transcriptome
- Ribosome profiling
- Polysome
- Computational biology
- Circular RNA
- Life in Land