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  • Perspective
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DNA N6-methyladenine in metazoans: functional epigenetic mark or bystander?

Nature Structural & Molecular Biology volume 24, pages 503–506 (2017)Cite this article

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Abstract

The DNA-adenine modification N6-methyladenine (6mA), initially thought to be mainly restricted to prokaryotes and certain unicellular eukaryotes, has recently been found in metazoans. Proposed functions vary from gene activation to transposon suppression. However, since most metazoan genomes possess 5-methylcytosine (5mC) as a dominant epigenetic mark, it raises the question of why 6mA is required. This Perspective summarizes the latest discoveries and suggests potential functional roles for 6mA in metazoan genomes.

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Figure 1: 6mA might be regulated in spatiotemporal manners.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Guan-Zheng Luo & Chuan He

  2. Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Guan-Zheng Luo & Chuan He

  3. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Guan-Zheng Luo & Chuan He

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Correspondence to Chuan He.

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Luo, GZ., He, C. DNA N6-methyladenine in metazoans: functional epigenetic mark or bystander?. Nat Struct Mol Biol 24, 503–506 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nsmb.3412

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