RNA modifications: what have we learned and where are we headed?

• Published in: Nature reviews. Genetics Vol. 17; no. 6; pp. 365 - 372
• Main Authors: Frye, Michaela, Jaffrey, Samie R., Pan, Tao, Rechavi, Gideon, Suzuki, Tsutomu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01-06-2016; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/208/200; 631/208/514/1949; 631/337/1645/2570; 631/45/612/1230; Agriculture; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Animals; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cancer Research; Cell regulation; Epigenomics - methods; Gene expression; Gene Function; Genetic aspects; Human Genetics; Humans; Laboratories; Medical research; Molecular biology; Observations; Oncology; Pediatrics; Properties; RNA; RNA - chemistry; RNA - genetics; RNA - metabolism; RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; RNA, Long Noncoding - genetics; Transcription (Genetics); Transcription, Genetic; Transcriptome; Transfer RNA; viewpoint; Tel Aviv Israel; United States > US; Israel
• ISSN: 1471-0056; 1471-0064
• DOI: 10.1038/nrg.2016.47

Five experts discuss topical aspects of RNA modifications, highlighting where the research field stands, recommendations for best practices and visions for the future of epitranscriptomics studies.
Proper control of the transcriptome is key for diverse aspects of gene expression, cellular functions and development, and its disruption can result in disease. A rapidly accumulating wealth of studies are identifying and functionally characterizing diverse types of RNA base modifications in protein-coding and non-coding RNAs, which have energized the emerging field of 'epitranscriptomics'. In this Viewpoint article, five experts discuss our latest understanding of RNA modifications, including recommendations for best practices and visions for the future.