A Genome-wide Map of RNA m⁶A Modification in mouse retina

Abstract

Purpose : RNA m⁶A methylation has been implicated in controlling the development and maintenance of neurons. However, an extensive in-depth analysis of its involvement and profile in the retina is still lacking. Here we systematically characterized m⁶A modification pattern on a genome-wide scale in mouse retina.

Methods : Global m⁶A assays determined RNA m⁶A modification levels in the retinas of newborn and 8-week-old mice. Quantitative RT-PCR analyses detected the expression levels of RNA Methyltransferase Complex genes-METTL3, METTL14, and WTAP. We performed genome-wide RNA m⁶A modification analyses of mouse retina using m⁶A RNA immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing (MeRIP-Seq). Using bioinformatics, we analyzed genes affected by the m⁶A marks in mouse retina.

Results : Global m⁶A RNA modification levels were significantly decreased in adult mouse retina as compared to newborn mouse retina. METTL3, METTL14, and WTAP expression levels were significantly downregulated in adult mouse retina. MeRIP-Seq identified typical patterns of global m⁶A methylation exhibited at exons, introns, stop codons, 5’UTR, and 3’UTR regions. Bioinformatic analyses revealed a complex m⁶A-mRNA regulatory network in mouse retina.

Conclusions : Our genome-wide RNA m⁶A modification profile provides a comprehensive picture of epitranscriptomic regulatory mechanism in mouse retina.

This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.