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Table 1 Functions and subcellular localizations of m6A modification regulators (Writers, Erasers and Readers)

From: The m6A RNA methylation regulates oncogenic signaling pathways driving cell malignant transformation and carcinogenesis

Regulators

Effectors

Cellular localization

Role

Writers

Methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3)

Nucleus

Catalytic subunit of m6A methyltransferase complex

Methyltransferase-like 14

(METTL14)

Nucleus

Catalytic subunit of m6A methyltransferase complex

Methyltransferase-like 16

(METTL16)

Nucleus

Independent Methyltransferase

Wilms’ tumour 1-associating protein (WTAP)

Nucleus

Enhancer of m6A methylation efficiency of methyltransferase complex

RNA binding motifs protein 15 (RBM15)

Nucleus

Facilitates recruitment of methyltransferase complex on target RNA

RNA binding motifs protein 15B (RBM15B)

Nucleus

Facilitates recruitment of methyltransferase complex on target RNA

Vir-like m6A methyltransferase associated (VIRMA)/KIAA1429

Nucleus

Scaffolding protein for WTAP, HAKAI and ZC3H13 to facilitate binding with catalytic subunits

HAKAI

Nucleus

Facilitates methyltransferase complex RNA binding

Zinc finger CCCH domain-containing protein 13 (ZC3H13)

Nucleus

Facilitates methyltransferase complex RNA binding

Erasers

Fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO)

Nucleus

m6A demethylase of mRNAs and lncRNAs or other noncoding RNAs

AlkB homologue5 (ALKBH5)

Nucleus

m6A demethylase of mRNAs and lncRNAs or other noncoding RNAs

AlkB homologue3 (ALKBH3)

Cytoplasm

tRNA-specific m6A demethylase

Readers

YTH domain family

proteins 1–3 (YTHDF1–3)

Cytoplasm

Facilitates mRNA translation (YTHDF1, YTHDF3)

mRNAs degradation (YTHDF2, YTHDF3)

YTH domain-containing

protein 1–2 (YTHDC1–2)

Nucleus (YTHDC1)

Cytoplasm (YTHDC2)

Regulates the splicing (YTHDC1)

Context-dependent mRNA translation or degradation (YTHDC2)

Eukaryotic initiation factor 3 (eIF3)

Cytoplasm

Cap-independent mRNA translation

Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1–3 (IGF2BP1–3)

Cytoplasm

Protect mRNA transcripts from degradation in stress condition

mRNA alternative splicing

Heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein C (hnRNPC)

Nucleus

Binds and controls processing of nascent RNA

Heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein A2B1 (hnRNPA2B1)

Nucleus

mRNA splicing and miRNA maturation