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DNA N6-methyladenine: a new epigenetic mark in eukaryotes?

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology volume 16, pages 705–710 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

DNA N6-adenine methylation (N6-methyladenine; 6mA) in prokaryotes functions primarily in the host defence system. The prevalence and significance of this modification in eukaryotes had been unclear until recently. Here, we discuss recent publications documenting the presence of 6mA in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans; consider possible roles for this DNA modification in regulating transcription, the activity of transposable elements and transgenerational epigenetic inheritance; and propose 6mA as a new epigenetic mark in eukaryotes.

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Figure 1: Methods to detect N6-methyladenine (6mA) in genomic DNA.
Figure 2: DNA methyltransferases and demethylases.
Figure 3: N6-methyladenine (6mA) genomic distribution and function.

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Acknowledgements

We apologize to colleagues whose work was not cited owing to space limitations. C.H. is supported by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant HG006827 and is an investigator of Howard Hughes Medical Institute. M.A.B. is a Special Fellow of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Work in the Greer lab is supported by a National Institute on Aging of the NIH grant (AG043550). Work in the Shi laboratory is supported by grants from the NIH (CA118487 and MH096066), the Ellison Medical Foundation and the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation. Y.S. is an American Cancer Society Research Professor.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, University of Chicago, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 929 East 57th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.,

    Guan-Zheng Luo

  2. Department of Cell Biology, and the Division of Newborn Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Children's Hospital Boston, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,

    Mario Andres Blanco

  3. Division of Newborn Medicine, and the Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics, Children's Hospital Boston, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,

    Eric Lieberman Greer

  4. Chuan He is at the Department of Chemistry and Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, University of Chicago, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 929 East 57th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.,

    Chuan He

  5. Yang Shi is at the Department of Cell Biology, and the Division of Newborn Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Children's Hospital Boston, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.,

    Yang Shi

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Correspondence to Chuan He or Yang Shi.

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Y.S. is a co-founder of Constellation Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and a member of its scientific advisory board. The other authors declare no competing interests.

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Luo, GZ., Blanco, M., Greer, E. et al. DNA N6-methyladenine: a new epigenetic mark in eukaryotes?. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 16, 705–710 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm4076

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