The Regulatory Role of m6A Modification in the Function and Signaling Pathways of Animal Stem Cells

TL;DR

This paper reviews how m6A RNA modification regulates stem cell function and signaling pathways, offering insights for regenerative medicine and cancer therapy.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel integrated perspective of m6A as a temporal regulator of stem cell state transitions.

Findings

m6A dynamically regulates stem cell pluripotency and coordinates epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming.

m6A acts as a central hub integrating key signaling pathways like Wnt, PI3K-AKT, JAK-STAT, and Hippo.

m6A plays a stage-specific role in somatic reprogramming and complex fate transitions.

Abstract

As a type of cell with self-renewal ability and multi-directional differentiation potential, stem cells are closely related to their functions, such as reprogramming transcription factors, histone modifications, and energy metabolism. m6A (N6-methyladenosine modification) is one of the most abundant modifications in RNA, and dynamic reversible m6A modification plays an important role in regulating stem cell function. This review moves beyond listing isolated functions and instead adopts an integrated perspective, viewing m6A as a temporal regulator of cellular state transitions. We discuss how m6A dynamically regulates stem cell pluripotency, coordinates epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming, and serves as a central hub integrating key signaling pathways (Wnt, PI3K-AKT, JAK-STAT, and Hippo). Finally, using somatic reprogramming as an example, we elucidate the stage-specific role of m6A in complex fate transitions. This comprehensive exposition not only clarifies the context-dependent logic of m6A regulation but also provides a precise framework for targeting the m6A axis in regenerative medicine and cancer therapy.

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