Roles of N6-Methyladenosine (mA) in Stem Cell Fate Decisions and Early Embryonic Development in Mammals.

N6-methyladenosine (mA) is one of the most abundant internal mRNA modifications, and it affects multiple biological processes related to eukaryotic mRNA. The majority of mA sites are located in stop codons and 3'UTR regions of mRNAs. mA regulates RNA metabolism, including alternative splicing (AS), alternative polyadenylation (APA), mRNA export, decay, stabilization, and translation. The mA metabolic pathway is regulated by a series of mA writers, erasers and readers. Recent studies indicate that mA is essential for the regulation of gene expression, tumor formation, stem cell fate, gametogenesis, and animal development. In this systematic review, we summarized the recent advances in newly identified mA effectors and the effects of mA on RNA metabolism. Subsequently, we reviewed the functional roles of RNA mA modification in diverse cellular bioprocesses, such as stem cell fate decisions, cell reprogramming and early embryonic development, and we discussed the potential of mA modification to be applied to regenerative medicine, disease treatment, organ transplantation, and animal reproduction.