Frontiers in Genetics (Aug 2022)

YT521-B homology domain family proteins as N6-methyladenosine readers in tumors

  • Heng Yang,
  • Chengyao Chiang,
  • Chengyao Chiang,
  • Qinhong Luo,
  • Chunlan Chen,
  • Junrong Huang,
  • Lizhi Zhu,
  • Duo Zheng

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2022.934223
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant internal chemical modification of eukaryotic mRNA and plays diverse roles in gene regulation. The m6A modification plays a significant role in numerous cancer types, including kidney, stomach, lung, bladder tumors, and melanoma, through varied mechanisms. As direct m6A readers, the YT521-B homology domain family proteins (YTHDFs) play a key role in tumor transcription, translation, protein synthesis, tumor stemness, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), immune escape, and chemotherapy resistance. An in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanism of YTHDFs is expected to provide new strategies for tumor treatment. In this review, we provide a systematic description of YTHDF protein structure and its function in tumor progression.

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