mRNAs that encode insulin in humans, mice, salmon and the fly Drosophila melanogaster are marked by methylated adenosines in the 3′ untranslated region (UTR). In D. melanogaster, these methylated adenosines are necessary for robust translation of the insulin mRNA into protein. In their absence, flies cannot regulate energy homeostasis and develop diabetes-like hallmarks.
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This is a summary of: Wilinski, D. & Dus, M. N6 adenosine methylation controls the translation of insulin mRNA. Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41594-023-01048-x (2023).
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Tagging insulin mRNA for translation. Nat Struct Mol Biol 30, 1258–1259 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41594-023-01049-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41594-023-01049-w
