Single-base mapping of m6A in lncRNAs reveals a distinct landscape linked to transposable elements and RNA processing
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant internal RNA modification with established roles in mRNA metabolism. Although m6A has been characterized in several well-known long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), its transcriptome-wide landscape and roles remain poorly understood. Here, we characterized the m6A landscape of lncRNAs at single-base resolution, identified m6A deposition-associated features,…
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant internal RNA modification found in long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), but its transcriptome-wide landscape and roles are not well understood. Researchers have now characterized the m6A landscape of lncRNAs at single-base resolution. Their findings reveal that m6A sites are broadly distributed along lncRNAs, unlike in messenger RNAs (mRNAs).
The researchers discovered that differences in m6A patterns between lncRNAs and mRNAs may be due to contributions from transposable element-derived sequence to motif availability and local RNA structure, as well as splicing-related constraints on m6A deposition near exon junctions. Additionally, m6A may play a role in regulating lncRNA polyadenylation.
This study provides the single-base-resolution m6A landscape in lncRNAs and links lncRNA methylation to transposable elements, RNA structure, splicing, and polyadenylation. By expanding our understanding of m6A in the lncRNA epitranscriptome, this research sheds light on the unique role of m6A in lncRNAs.
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