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  • Perspective
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Evolving insights into RNA modifications and their functional diversity in the brain

Nature Neuroscience volume 19, pages 1292–1298 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

In this Perspective, we expand the notion of temporal regulation of RNA in the brain and propose that the qualitative nature of RNA and its metabolism, together with RNA abundance, are essential for the molecular mechanisms underlying experience-dependent plasticity. We discuss emerging concepts in the newly burgeoning field of epitranscriptomics, which are predicted to be heavily involved in cognitive function. These include activity-induced RNA modifications, RNA editing, dynamic changes in the secondary structure of RNA, and RNA localization. Each is described with an emphasis on its role in regulating the function of both protein-coding genes, as well as various noncoding regulatory RNAs, and how each might influence learning and memory.

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Figure 1: In different local environments of the neuron, epitranscriptomic mechanisms can be employed independently and bidirectionally to regulate the qualitative state of RNA and effect experience-dependent changes in neuronal function in the brain.
Figure 2: Projected mechanisms that can control the life of a single RNA gene, perhaps at a single-molecule level.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank R. Tweedale for editing the manuscript and gratefully acknowledge grant support from the NIH (5R01MH105398-T.W.B.), NIH (1R01MH109588-01-T.W.B. and R.C.S.), NIGMS (1DP2GM119164-01-R.C.S.) and the NHMRC (APP1033127-T.W.B.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA

    Sarah Nainar & Robert C Spitale

  2. Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA

    Paul R Marshall, Christina R Tyler & Timothy W Bredy

  3. Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA

    Paul R Marshall, Christina R Tyler & Timothy W Bredy

  4. Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.,

    Timothy W Bredy

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  1. Sarah Nainar
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Correspondence to Robert C Spitale or Timothy W Bredy.

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Nainar, S., Marshall, P., Tyler, C. et al. Evolving insights into RNA modifications and their functional diversity in the brain. Nat Neurosci 19, 1292–1298 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.4378

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